Unpopular Policies for the Future

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Police members and armored vehicles block a road as they guard Bogor Palace during a student rally to mark the first year of the Joko Widodo-Maruf Amin administration as they also protested the Job Creation Law on Jl Sudirman in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday (20/10/2020). Similar rallies were held by students in a number of spots in Bogor. The police guarded areas around Bogor Palace and blocked some roads.

Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said a number of unpopular decisions by the government would be beneficial in the next few years.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — President Joko Widodo is preparing the foundation for an advanced Indonesia with a competitive advantage. For this purpose, the government had to take a number of steps that may be unpopular today but will create benefits in the next few years.

"A leader has two options, [namely] taking progressive steps for the sustainability of the nation or simply enjoying the authority that exists today," Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko told Kompas in Jakarta on Tuesday (20/10/2020).

Regarding social welfare issue, for example, 64.7 respondents believe the government can solve problems in this sector.

The results of a telephone poll by Kompas Research and Development (R&D) on 14-16 October 2020 showed that 52.5 percent of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the government\'s performance. However, public confidence in President Jokowi\'s administration in overcoming the nation\'s problems is still high. Regarding social welfare issue, for example, 64.7 respondents believe the government can solve problems in this sector (Kompas, 20/10).

Leader\'s vision

According to Moeldoko, President Jokowi is not the kind of leader who wants to enjoy power and avoid policies that bring many pros and cons. The President dared to take steps that are not popular with the public because he wanted the Indonesian people to be ready to face challenges in the future, namely related to the intense competition between countries.

"By taking steps that may not be popular among the public in this first year, but in [the next] four years the people will feel such policies are the right choice. This is the vision of a leader," said Moeldoko.

These unpopular steps, among others, refer to the job creation bill that has been approved by the House of Representatives (DPR) and passed into law. A number of elements in society, such as workers, staged rallies to reject the bill because it was considered to be detrimental to them.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Activists from the Alliance of People Movement perform a theatrical show during a demonstration at the Gadjah Mada University traffic circle in Yogyakarta on Tuesday (20/10/2020). The rally, which marked the first year of the Joko Widodo-Maruf Amin administration, was participated in by students from universities and schools. The protest called for the revocation of the Job Creation Law.

Another policy undertaken by the President is to improve the quality of human resources through various health, education and infrastructure programs.

This step is intended to optimize opportunities from the demographic bonus enjoyed by Indonesia. Demographic bonus is a situation in which the population of productive age of a country is dominant. This condition can be an advantage for that country if the population of productive age has quality. However, this can also be catastrophic if the quality of the population of productive age is low.

Rad also: One Uneasy First Year

"We perceive our demographic bonus as a good opportunity. But if we don\'t prepare the tool, what can we expect?" said Moeldoko.

Democracy and security

Regarding the law enforcement imposed on those criticizing the government, which some groups consider to be excessive, Moeldoko said, the government\'s duty is to protect all citizens of the country. "The task of the state is [to ensure] democracy runs well and stability is under control. [In this case] we talk about 270 million people. If small number of people damage [public facilities], but disturbs others, then what? Don’t we have to also protect the right of the silent majority?" he said.

The Presidential Staff Office (KSP) also opened a “hotline” program called KSP Mendengar.

In the midst of this pandemic, according to Moeldoko, the President continues to listen to public aspirations in a number of ways. The Presidential Staff Office (KSP) also opened a “hotline” program called KSP Mendengar.

Freedom of expression, said Moeldoko, must be based on law. "Do we want to be an orderly nation or a reckless one? If it is an orderly nation,

follow the rules of the game. If it is not orderly, it will eventually break down," he said.

The President\'s commitment to eradicating corruption has also not changed. "The Job Creation Law is an instrument to eliminate the high cost economy, which is prerequisite for corruption. This is accomplished by shortening the licensing chain in order to minimize corruption," he said.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Protesters from several organizations march on Jl Basuki Rahmat to the Grahadi building in Surabaya, East Java, on Tuesday (20/10/2020). The protesters, consisting of laborers, students and farmers called on people to reject the Job Creation Law. The rally ran peacefully.

Less attention

Separately, during PARA Syndicate webinar titled "One Year of Jokowi-Amin: Evaluation and Projection of Promises in the Middle of a Pandemic," there were criticisms related to the strengthening of executive power supported by coalition of political parties in the House. As a result, there are not many critical attitudes from the House towards the government and the implementation of its programs.

Read also read: President Jokowi 2019-2024

A researcher at Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Political Research Center, Aisah Putri Budiatri, said that the House\'s approval for the job creation bill to be passed into law shows the attitude of both the legislative and the executive offices that rushed to finish the legislation. Consequently, the drafting of the legislation is not inclusive. "The process was not carried out carefully. In fact, many academics have explained that the making of laws using the omnibus law method must be careful," he said.

Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta

Protesters display a banner that reads “Revoke the Omnibus Law” during a rally outside the Grahadi building, in Surabaya, East Java, on Tuesday (20/10/2020). The protesters consisted of laborers, students and farmers, who called on people to reject the Job Creation Law. The rally ran peacefully.

Arif Susanto of Exposit Strategic said that the government\'s repressive actions towards critics and the opposing parties reflect a concentration of power.

Meanwhile, Lucius Karus of the Indonesian Parliament Watchdog (Formappi) questioned the House\'s attitude of not exercising much of its control mechanism at the executive branch. (REK/LAS/HAR)