Too much interference

Too much interference

I read Kwik Kian Gie's personal rebuttal and interview in
answer to his critics with great interest (The Jakarta Post,
Sept. 3, 2000: Much-maligned Kwik answers his critics). While it
may not be too easy to judge his performance during his brief 10
months in office as Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance
and Industry amid the extreme severity of our multi-dimensional
crisis, I find his hasty replacement a loss for the country.

A friend of mine, a noted political analyst, recently said to
me that Kwik wasn't effective at all as an economic minister,
that he only relied on his honesty, to which I responded by
asking him three questions: how can anyone in his position be
effective if:
1. The top leadership is weak, erratic and lacking in vision and
sense of mission?
2. He isn't trusted to carry out his job without interference and
counteraction?
3. The cabinet composition is the result of many compromises with
many different parties with different aspirations?

Point three, regarding the economic team's solidity, has been
adequately answered by Kwik and noted economist, Sri Edi Swasono
who also questioned the critics's conception of solidity/unity.
He said, what type of unity were these people talking about and
what is the point of it if it is intended for the wrong purposes
of enriching oneself? This is a valid point seeing the current
composition of the new cabinet comprising the President's
confidants (read: cronies), something many suspect as President
Abdurrahman Wahid's (or Gus Dur's) strategic move to secure vital
cash generators to sustain his personal agenda.

At any rate, I believe the situation would have been
significantly different if the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), which despite the many
counter arguments was the valid winner of the last election, had
been given the chance to govern the country. Kwik would
have been far more effective, had the economic team been based on
the party's platform with full authority and trust from the top
leadership, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Kwik's integrity and consistence is an asset, a rare one in
Indonesia. We have been led with "highly reputable macro
economists" and, for heaven's sake, look where we are now. He has
written highly acclaimed economic materials in the past and
nobody ever complained about his "lack of macroeconomic
knowledge." And if those economic experts with good track records
refuse to serve under Gus Dur, as was the case with Dorodjatun
Kuncoro-Jakti, isn't it enough indication of the validity of the
above three questions.

Seeing Gus Dur in action in the last 10 months, I must say
that I, as an admirer, begin to question his motive and intention
in "betraying" Mega. With his regular show of "tantrums", the
hasty statement forgiving Soeharto, his questionable firing of
Laksamana Sukardi and accusing him of the very thing Gus Dur
regularly engages in himself in (namely nepotism) by, among other
things, appointing his less credible confidant to replace
Laksamana, his alleged adulterous affair with a married woman
young enough to be his daughter, his soft stance against
corruptors (bureaucrats and businessmen alike), the Bulog
and Brunei scandals, one can't help thinking that in spite of his
high profile spiritual leadership, perhaps it is too much to lay
much hope on his shoulders to lead the nation out of the crisis.
He seems to be just another typical politician who puts his
personal ambitions and interests first.

I would like to extend my warm welcome to Pak Kwik on his
return to the realm of "ordinary people" where I look forward to
hearing him be as vocal as he has always been, free of the
restraints of the last 10 months. He will be more effective in
the House of Representatives in the current circumstances. Your
real turn on center stage will come, sooner or later.

RAHAYU RATNANINGSIH

Jakarta