Job Discussion Forums

[malu]

Taking stock of the general situation (social, political etc etc) now in Indonesia and comparing it to when I arrived five years ago I find myself becoming cautiously optimistic. Am I crazy?

There is still corruption at every level of the public and civil service, children still die of starvation, Jakarta still floods every time it rains and rentamobs still spring up at the drop of a 50ribu note to yell through loudhailers and push against police lines in a pantomime manner.

Yet at the same time I see the more lunatic wahabist 'Muslim' political parties losing support, free schools that really are free (at least some of them), a banking system that hasn't self-destructed in the present economic quagmire, and the old guard of Soeharto's cronies looking increasingly isolated (though by no means impotent).

Dare I entertain such optimism?

[father Mackenzie]

Malu, I think you are right.

The elections this year have helped as they have focused the peoples attention away from the economic issues and created a feel good factor as they can sense change and something to look forward to.
Also lots of good press with Obama becoming president, Hilary Clinton coming here and saying positive things about the country so that has been good for the country's reputation internationally.

Lets hope Garuda is allowed to fly into Europe soon and the World Oceans Conference is a success and this will be a further boost for the County

[Vertumnus]

I would say we should wait until the elections are over.

I don't imagine that Indonesians will be so stupid as to vote for Mrs. Megawati again, especially since she's partnered herself with someone from the Suharto family, but it might happen, especially if she offers enough money to voters at the polls.

If Megabodoh is elected, all bets are off. Sorry, I'm excited about the idea of a female president, but not HER. She'll just sink the country back into the quagmire it was in before SBY took over.

-D