Why can't we sort out this mess?

Why can't we sort out this mess?

I have just returned from a trip to Bangkok after an interval
of ten years, and wow what a difference!

From the beginning to the end, I totally enjoyed the
experience, and was certainly impressed.

Ten years ago Jakarta was better-off than Bangkok as Bangkok
then was polluted, congested and disorganized. Now the reverse is
true.

The Bangkok Post and The Jakarta Post are almost
interchangeable in their stories of political infighting
corruption, mismanagement and so on but while these activities
seem to have paralyzed Indonesia, Thailand has gotten on with the
job: building the Sky Train, reducing traffic congestion,
cleaning the streets and teaching its population the value of
tourism and foreign investment.

Arriving at Soekarno-Hatta airport with its long queues at the
immigration and hordes of harassing touts, left me, a longtime
resident, depressed and disgusted. What do you imagine visitors
are thinking? The thoughts certainly won't be "can't wait to
return!"

Isn't there anyone up to the task of sorting this out?

JANTHY NIHARDJO

Jakarta