I am neither a fan of Sri Mulyani Indrawati (SMI) nor a detractor of her. She might be good in reforming her ministry and then the bureaucratic reform becomes a buzz in SBY’s administration. However, we still have Gayus. Many people award her as a hero in tackling the 2008 crisis impact. But what is the pivotal policy which can allow us to avoid the global crisis, so that we can admire her? Is it the policy for Century Bank?
Global crisis in 2008 resulted in decreasing demand all over the world. The agony of this condition would go to the countries which depend mainly on exports. Indonesia can escape from the crisis because its export is relatively small. German has the worst impact of this crisis, not because of they have an incapable Finance Minister, it is merely the consequence of its export-oriented economic structure.
However I have much respect to SMI. She is a smart and brave woman. It is not easy for her who has had an academic and professional reputation, to make herself get insult from the lawmakers which are more suitable to be her students. To be public officers in the tumultuous democratic era is not easy, sometimes the debate with lawmakers is not rational, it becomes a stage for politicians to show off their legislative’s power.
Is SMI guilty on Century Bank debacle? The answer might be the task of special committee. However, we can answer this question, if SMI conducted wrongdoing in that case, what will her motive be?
First, SMI want to benefit from the bail out money to Century Bank. She did hanky-panky with the Bank’s management. However, the investigation proved nothing of this accusation. SMI is not the country's richest woman, but he has no reason at all to steal the state's money. The appointment of World Bank to fill the high ranking position - certainly followed by high salary - shows it is not difficult for her to make much money through her professional skill.
Second, SMI want to help SBY's funding team to win the presidential election. From the protracted bickering of inquiry team, there is no evidence to link the bail out of Century Bank to the Democratic Party campaign funding.
So, SMI is clean in terms of benefiting money from her position. She is not guilty for sure.
The last thing to say about SMI, she is a professional in her field, she devoted herself in economics both theory and practice. She had used her knowledge in making financial policy for her country. And she stepped down, not because of her incapability to do the job, but it was merely politic matters.
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Julia Perez (Jupe) is famous artist. As to SMI, I neither admire Jupe nor hate her. So far I see no significant achievement of her, in film, television, etc. She is famous because of her private life problem widely covered and published by media, rather than any accomplishment she has made.
If Jupe is still Jupe with her sexy activities, then we have nothing to discuss about her. But now, we get startling and shocked due to her candidacy as Regency head of Pacitan Regency, East Java. This is following Ayu Azahari' previous failed bid as deputy head of Sukabumi Regency, West Java.
Why must we get annoyed with those candidacies? Do they have no right to give contribution in politics? Why should we be bothered? Can we deny that, in democratic system, it is the people who have the right to decide the one who becomes their leader?
Absolutely, democracy is not about the wrong man/woman in the wrong place. Democracy is a system with the single ultimate purpose, namely to give people prosperity. And as consequence the leader or public officers has to be selected based on capabilities, experience, moral, etc.
We must reject Jupe merely because of our common sense. Although Jupe has the right to put herself in candidacy, but she has nothing in terms of capability, experience, leadership and, last but not least, "brain" to lead people in regency to become more prosperous. The party invites her only because of her popularity to galvanize a constituency.
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Our democracy is going wild. Everyone can speak loudly to express what they think or do what they want. Democracy is simplified only to get the power or to defeat the opponent by any means. Logics do not prevail.
SMI stepped down not because of her lack of capabilities and Jupe can run confidently for top position not because of her capabilities either. What an irony. These are dangerous phenomena. Meritocracy as the essence of democracy implementation does not prevail at all. Consequently, we will have public officers and leaders who will take care of the people’s prosperity from the ones who only have interest in power, titles and prestige.
By doing this, we let our country mire into the dark side of democracy in which people quarreling, fighting for everything except for doing good for the people.
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