Time for introspection

Time for introspection

It was most refreshing to hear President Soeharto remind his subordinates, firmly and clearly, not to act too self-assuredly. Perhaps this is the time for all government officials to be more introspective with regard to what they have done so far. As of this moment, officials should perhaps act with greater wisdom and discretion and thus avoid making incorrect statements which could confuse the public.

More fundamentally, the President was actually asking his subordinates to be more professional in their work. Officials should not be too quick in making comments on things that are outside their jurisdiction because usually such statements are withdrawn almost as soon as they are made.

Perhaps officials should not be afraid of being considered too ignorant of things that do not fall under their jurisdiction, as long as they are fully capable of displaying a top performance in the fields for which they are responsible.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta