A Few Good Men

Published @ The Jakarta Post http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/12/17/imo-view-good-man-and-husband.html 

If we define a good husband as a man who has only one woman, then US presidents Jefferson, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Clinton of are definitely not good husbands. They cheated their wives with extramarital affairs.

This Is Why RI Must Import Cows

This happens simply because of demand exceeding supply. The back-of-envelope calculation goes as follows:

In 2011 RI's population was 238 million. The demand of cow meat is assumed 1.7 kg/caput/year, then in that year the need is 405 million kg.

It is assumed one cow has 209 kg in average, then the need of cow was 1.9 million cows in 2011. This was the demand.

While in that year the population of beef cow is 14.7 million and it is assumed that the adult male cow is 10% of total population.

So the supply of cow is only 1.47 million compared to the demand of 1.9 million. That's why we must import cows from Australia.

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On RI’s Economic Growth

RI is touted by the government and foreign analysts for its impressive economic growth. RI has seen relatively high economic growth for years. This is not small feat bearing in mind this is happening amid the world’s economic crisis. It seems reforms era to be carrying off the economy. But does this lap up by the people?

Does corruption hamper development?

Published on 27/6/2012 @ The Jakarta Post http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/06/27/letter-does-corruption-hamper-development.html

Corruption is certainly bad and one of the banes of development. But sometimes, the way of illicit money is spent can make a difference. Experts have argued that Indonesia is luckier than a number of African countries regarding the impacts of corruption, because Indonesian corruptors invest or spend their money in the country, whereas African corruptors put their money abroad.

Reviving RI’s real Muslim culture

Published on 23/5/2012 @ The Jakarta Post http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/05/23/letter-reviving-ri-s-real-muslim-culture.html

Lately, Indonesian vigilante groups are really cowing us. These groups are hogging much of the limelight. They can torture, intimidate, expel the Ahmadis, rough up groups promoting plurality, dismiss intellectual discussions, seal off a legalized church and ban Lady Gaga’s show. They register “success” as being an influential decision maker in our daily lives.

May 1 and A Knowledge-based Economy

Published on 5/5/2012 @ The Jakarta Post http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/05/05/letter-may-1-and-a-knowledge-based-economy.html

In future the May Day celebration, which commemorates the struggle for labor rights, will likely perish. Or at least, the day will be observed differently.


The day will be abandoned, not only because many of those rights have been fulfilled, but given the fact that at the end of the day the amount of blue-collar workers will sharply reduce. The sunset of the industrial economy and the dawn of the knowledge-based economy (KBE) has radically changed the way of production as well as the need for products. And in the process, the economy needs fewer workers and spells doom for lower-skilled workers.

Success Through Trial and Error

Published 21/4/2012 @ Jakarta Post http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/04/21/letter-success-through-trial-and-error.html

To know the secret of business success has always been our great desire. Instinctively, the recipes are gleaned from the experiences of successful companies. Experts tried to find out what those companies did, what strategy they implemented, what quality their leaders and employees had. And through induction method and they composed easy-to-read narration of “road to success”.

Indonesia Must Buy Iranian Oil

Published on 26/3/2012 @ Jakarta Post http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/03/26/imo-view-indonesia-must-buy-iranian-oil.html

Indonesia’s fuel price hike seems inevitable. The price follows the world’s oil price that steps up due partly to the rising tension between US, its allies and the world’s second largest oil exporter, Iran. Bizarrely, US with thousands of state-of-the-art nukes and Israel with about hundreds of nukes are afraid with the development of Iranian maybe-first-generation-nukes. They try shamelessly to stifle the Iranian economy by barring the Iranian oil export as the main source of Iranian economy.

Does History Repeat Itself for World War III?

World War III is looming. By imposing unbearable sanctions on Iran, America plays again a dangerous game. It is called a game because it can be not to play. And, if played, that game would claim a lot of lives and sufferings. America will likely win the war against Iran, but astronomical price must be paid amid unfolding economic crisis. Iran is better equipped than Taliban or Iraq. The capture of American spy drone by Iran last month speaks volumes.

Back to pre-World War II, surprisingly what America does today to Iran the way America did to Japan decades ago. America throttled Japan’s economy and pride through harsh sanctions and humiliation and eventually left Japan no choice, but war.

Kiat Esemka: Hoped-for National Car?

Published 10/1/2012 @ Jakarta Post http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/01/10/letter-kiat-esemka-hoped-national-car.html

Solo Mayor, Joko Widodo makes headlines again. With splashy action, he replaced his official vehicle, Toyota Camry with vocational student-made, Kiat Esemka. It suddenly rekindles the long awaited national car. And it draws both supports and criticisms.

Truth be told, Kiat Esemka has neither been long tested yet nor prepared for mass production. Solo Mayor, who in fact has good intention, is too fast to make it his official car.

Many also question who really design and build the engine as the important part of the car. Does it the solely wolishe rk of vocational students? Or does it imitate other manufacturer? Or do they buy it from other countries such as China?