Despite the low ranking of Human Development Index (HDI), 111 out of 182, Indonesians should be very proud to know that their top officials who manage this country like learning so much.
Of late we see a string of comparative study trips abroad conducted by lawmakers and senators. Some lawmakers want to study scouts in South Africa, Japan and South Korea. A national media said in South Africa it is better to study how to hold world class event such as World Cup. In Japan and South Korea it is better to study how to work hard for the country! And some other lawmakers want to study horticulture in the Netherlands and Norway. And surprisingly, the Senators have also traced their partners through comparative study in England and the Netherlands.
Even President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) himself has eternal passion to learn. He invited Professor David T Ellwood of Harvard Kennedy School, to give him and cabinet members a lecture on poverty eradication. So our leaders want to study poverty eradication from an expert coming from long standing developed country. It is an awkward choice.
Why don't they consider learning poverty eradication from an expert of South Korea or even of Malaysia? Their lessons learned, instead of American's, is very close to our situation. In 1970 50% of Malaysians lived in absolute poverty, and now after 40 year development the poverty rate is 4%. Given the fact Indonesia's poverty rate is still 13%, this is worth studying. However learning from South Korea is the best choice. In 1970 the income per capita of South Korea was even worse than Malaysia, USD 260 versus USD 380. And now after 40 year development, South Korea surpasses Malaysia by USD 21,530 versus USD 6,760.
In my opinion comparative study trips abroad is useless, wasting time, and wasting money. First, you cannot learn something serious such as government policy, bill consideration from other country in one or two weeks. Second, despite you have retrieved the data, policy or regulation from other countries, you have still to customize regarding with your own problems and circumstances. Third, it is the internet age. You should travel less but browse more. Certainly, you can learn more from internet.
By the way, inviting a professor - who only capable on paper - to give a lecture about the problem in which we know much better than he does is also an unnecessary squander. I think the president wants to show us that he is very serious to address the proverty. Frankly speaking, we need no more words anymore, just do it and give us the best result.
What our country direly needs now is the smart action and implementation, and not about searching any theory anymore. Simply put, first you make your own policy. Second analyze the implementation and make some improvements. Third, try out the newly improved policy.
If leaders have no big-measured idea and never take risks to materialize it, then he will be safe in the office until his last day. And we remember nothing of what he has done for this country.
Reference:
- http://www.mediaindonesia.com/read/2010/09/16/168810/70/13/Belajar-Pramuka-di-Afrika-Selatan
- http://cetak.kompas.com/read/2010/09/16/04135767/4.syarat.hapus.kemiskinan
- http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/09/15/dpd-conduct-comparative-study-england-netherlands.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index
- http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/lawmakers-say-trips-abroad-legal-essential-in-legislation/396381
- http://curiouscapitalist.blogs.time.com/2010/08/10/escaping-the-middle-income-trap/#ixzz0wC8m4KsH
- http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/07/01/poverty-rate-down-13-percent-bps-says.html
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