Anggito Abimanyu's Adverstisement

Did you see Abimanyu's advertisement on national television lately? It's not interesting. It's just about his thank you to all participants and stakeholders in 41st ADB Annual Meeting in Bali last week.

But, for what? Is there any benefits for Indonesia? Nothing. Because it's simple extravaganza. This adv is paid by Ministry of Finance budget, so the money comes from Indonesian people.

I think Abimanyu is just targeting to be noticed by presidential candidates for the next administration. Hmmm..., smart....

Bakrie's Mud

I'm glad to hear this news. Bakrie, the family name of Aburizal, Coordinating Minister for Welfare and the owner of Lapindo, has an honorary to be named for a building at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). It's because he just contributed some billions IDR to ITB.

Lastweek, Lapindo was failed to fulfil its promise (is it the third or fourth fiasco? I don't remember) to accomplish the payment for Lapindo's mud victims.

Gotcha.., I have an idea. Why don't we replace tha name of Lapindo's mud by the name of Lapindo's owner. Then, we have Bakrie's Mud, or Aburizal Bakrie's Mud. It sounds good.

Chatib Basri and Harinowo on Stimulus Fiscal

Two thumb economists wrote on stimulus fiscal. Which one do you prefer? Kompas placed Basri's column on the 1st page on Sunday (12/1), but took Harinowo's article on the opinion page on Tuesday (15/1). I think Kompas should place Harinowo on the 1st page too.

In my opinion, Basri's column seems heavy to campaigning the current government program, I can't find to much worth analysis on fiscal stimulus, the main topic. It might be that he will be reserved an inside ring position on the next SBY's Administration already, so he has to maintain this position. Good trial.....

update:
Another written on that topic appears at Kompas page 15 today (19/1) by my old friend, Ichsan Modjo. I can't comment anything....

Are Obama and Bush the same?

Trivial question, are Obama and Bush the same?

It's about Middle East, specifically Israel's terror in Gaza since just after Christmas Eve in the last December. Bush, as usually, always backs up his closed coalition and Obama has being silent. The answer will be unveiled in January 20, 2008.

Bureaucrat of The Year 2008: Urip Tri Gunawan

There are many candidates to be the bureaucrat(s) of the year. I took some nominees for the negative and positive light. Here are for the negative:

1. Burhanudin Abdullah and his (BI) gank
2. Urip Tri Gunawan and his (Attorney General) gank
3. The Six Musketeers from The House of Representative: Al Amin Nur Nasution, Yusuf Emir Faisal, Sarjan Taher, Hamka Yandu, Anthony Zeidra Abidin, and Bulian Royyan.
4. M. Syaukani, ex Head of Kutai Kartanegara District
   

And here are for the positive:

1. Agus Chondro, an ex legislative bureaucrat.
   
2. Siti Fadilah Supari, the Minister of Health.
3. Joko Widodo, the Major of Solo
4. Untung Wiyono, Head of Sragen District
5. I Gede Winasa, Head of Jembrana District

The reasons why I put those bureaucrats, please visit this link.

Bureaucrat of The Month (4): Siti Fadilah Supari

A credit for Minister of Health, Siti Fadilah Supari, for her eager heart in developing a better health in Indonesia. A survey conducted by Reform Institute reveal that people outside are respected to Mrs Supari's work and I agree.

Bureaucrat of The Month (3): Yusril Ihza Mahendra

Yusril Ihza Mahendra, the former Minister of Law and Human Rights and some of high level bureaucrat at that ministry became the suspects of big corruption named The System of Law Agencies Administration (Sistem Administrasi Badan Hukum).

Yusril gives his view about the case in his blog.

Actually, I have a piece of hope to him about the future of Indonesia because he is young (compare to other high level politicians in Indoensia) and talented. He is a loyal fan of M Natsir personally and ideologically, but he had never followed Natsir how to be a leader in bureaucracy (Natsir is humble but Yusril is bourgeois).

The Acceleration of Budget Disbursement (3)

Lately I have been paying attention to television because there have being a lot of government office advertisements.

Those make me itch because there is a deep lack between the advertisement with the target group, and they just started going advertising in the last quarter of the budget year, or let me say: extravagance. How much money do they spend? Of course it's not about a few money.

Some of those advertisements are:

• A various versions of PNPM (Program Nasional Pemberdayaan Masyarakat/National Program for Community Empowerment)
• Several from Ministry of Agriculture such as PUAD (Pengembangan Usaha Agribisnis Perdesaan/The Development of Rural Agribusiness), the fertilizer subsidy, and the use of exelence seeds (so far).
• Some from Ministry of Education such as the campaigne of the Minister about education for all (the Dacar Decalaration), a various versions SMK (Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan/Vocational High School), and others.
• Ministry of Communication and Information about Avian Influenza (What?!!), and others.
• Ministry of Transportation about aviation discipline.
• A various versions from KPI (Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia/Indonesia Propagasi Commision)
• BSN (Badan Standardisasi Nasional/National Standard Agency)
• Ministry of Home Affair about Love Our Maritime Nation (Excuse me...)
• Ministry of Remote Area Development (Kementerian Pembangunan Desa Tertinggal)
• Ministry of Religion Affair
  
• Etc.
  

The Acceleration of Budget Disbursement (2)

Here are a couple of pictures covering the story.

Narcissism

I can't find what's the interesting and worth one from Indonesia that I (if I am a tourist) have to visit.

The Acceleration of Budget Disbursement

One of SBY's Administration policies to anticipate global crisis is to accelerate government budget disbursement. Bappenas issued a pronouncement letter to ministries, state owned enterprises and local governments to accommodate that policy. In average, the budget disbursement of each ministries is low. The Ministry of Public Works, until October 2008, their disbursement is only 49.5 percent. Another one, The Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime, until July 2008, is only 22.91 percent. I think the others are the same that they have a low level of disbursement. This condition always happens every year.

Then, what is happening after the pronouncement now? Three weeks afterward the meeting rooms of the most hotels (especially in Jakarta, Bali, and capital cities of provinces) are full booked by government bodies.

Everybody moves their business from offices to hotels.

Growth is expanding, is it because of this policy?

We're also Happy for Barrack's Win

Obama won the USA presidential election elegantly. The first Afro-America is going to lead the number one predominance country in the world, and he has a step father from Indonesia (don't forget, he had lived in Indonesia for more than 3 years). That's why I am and the most Indonesian are feeling happy with his win.

But, I am just feeling happy, I don't take much expectancy either Obama's Administration will give much attention to Indonesia or Indonesia has many advantages from the Obama's elected.

I think Obama is going to be busy with his domestic country. He just will take attention to Iraq, but it is only for USA's interested.

Lets be happy for Obama's win.

Bureacrat of the Month (2): Burhanudin Abdullah and His (BI) Gank

Burhanudin Abdullah sentenced for 5 years in jail, and his colleagues are waiting to follow soon. Surprisingly, or it must be happened earlier, Aulia Pohan is the next suspect for the divergence of BI's fund to the House (DPR). SBY, as usual, is itch to give a comment about the new status of his relative in law. I hope this is not a part of campaign after Sri Sultan stated that he is ready for SBY's running mate in 2009.

Anyway, I am happy. Much more the guilty bureacrats imprisonment much better Indonesia.

Bureaucrat of the Month (1): Agus Condro

Agus Chondro is now an ex legislative bureaucrat after his party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has removed him from the House of Representatives (DPR).

Why I pick him to be the bureacrat of the month is his confess on receiving bribery -could be either- from Miranda Gultom herself or Miranda's backbone during the fit and proper test the candidates for senior deputy of Central Bank (BI).

His confess reveals other stink flavors from the House. The news from Indonesian Financial Transaction Report and Anlysis Center (PPATK) said that more than 400 traveller cheques which have value IDR 50 million were distributed to members of the House in 1999-2004. Well, money flood in Senayan, but stone rain for Indonesia. How poor we are.

I recognize that he wasn't a good legislative bureaucrat, might be really bad, but his tack -I think- expunges his sin.

Message for Commission of Corruption Eradication (KPK) is that don't be doubt and let's bring other members who don't confess into jail. Much longer for them who said that they didn't receive anything if the fact shows that they did receive.

Praise from A. Fatih Suhud

Thanks Fatih, I am glad to be honoured as blogger of the week. I just wonder that the goal what I want to reach is to push Indonesian bureaucracy to be better and better. I am trying it by using blog. I don't intend to be a celebrity bureaucrat, but if it has done, well I just accept it. He he he.

Republic of Slogan

Did you find any confusion from the picture below? Yes, you're right. Where is the hell pedestrian line? I took this picture on July 14th, 2008, in front of Halimun, a busway's shelter.

Indonesia has too many slogans now. 'Hidup adalah Perbuatan', and what have Sutrisno Bachir done?. 'New generation, new sanguine', this belongs to Rizal Mallarangeng. What do you expect that Rizal will find a way? I don't know. And then Prabowo Subiyano, and whoever else will give other slogans. Just slogan.

On the other hand, SBY is busy with the fray (and this link) about the data of poverty against Wiranto and Megawati.

How much money do they spend? It doesn't matter, the money will back after the power is held. They think like that. It's dreadful.

Democracy is still a party, no, a revelry, oh no, orgy. Indonesia, where are you going to go?

Epilog of Euro 2008

Euro 2008 was over in the last Sunday and Spain is the best among the the best. I take a series of notes from group qualification (group A & B, group C & D), quarter final, semi final and final, and the dream team containing magnificent players across country. I put them in my another blog.

My favorite team even after, Netherlands was superior only in the group qualification stage but they were down by a Dutch coach, Guus Hidink.

Spirit, togetherness, determination, and patient are in Spain team. The eldest guy in this tournament, Luis Aragones prove that experience and maturity are important.

Finally, I am just dreaming that the members of the dream team I choose were willing to be Indonesian citizens, and Indonesia would have been the next champion in the world.

Zzzzzzzzz......

Monkey's Comedy

Monkey's Comedy (in Indonesia is Topeng Monyet or Komedi Monyet) is an Indonesian traditional cabaret. Where do they perform? In the street. Yes, they are street performers. The following questions are too sorrow to answer. How is their life? How much money do the get everyday? etc, etc.Are they presentable to perform in front of Indonesian President with his guesses? If they performed for Japanese Tea Banquet, it would have been a notice to the world that this one is Indonesian culture. We don't need to be worry that Malaysia will take a copyright for this. And yes, they are presentable.

Look at the picture below. This one is a perform in Chinese Tea Banquet. In the front row of the table is usually the important person. Almost of all guesses of the China Administor have been there. What did they see? A series of Chinese traditional cabarets. One of them is hand shadow, a simple hoop.And I dream that someday Monkey's Comedy performs at President's palatial. At that time, SBY receive and entertain Barack Obama as USA president.

Intro to Indonesian Energy Economics

Go to the short article here. Highly recommended, that's very valuable for Indonesian people who just watch and don't understand what the problem is and how to solve about the complicated of Indonesian energy management. I did read it, and then I am just mumbling that how generous we are (or stupid?).

Hanan Nugroho (HN) shows that Indonesia is rich in energy (in the real term). Indonesia (read: the government or administrator) is too generous to give 'subsidy' to Japan (the most), Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia .

Now, the SBY-Kalla's administration is trying to avoid to cut fuel subsidy and hey, they have 86 scenarios for that but there is no 'through pass'. If SBY-Kalla read the HN's article, they would have had the right decision easily and they could have a long term scenario. Not short term.

Why Can't SBY Sleep?

SBY got angry to his audiences who were falling asleep. He was angry because he can't sleep well. Why? Because of the price of crude oil. It continues raising and now $115/barrel, and this increase is the most influenced to SBY's governance.

Mathematically (I don't want to use 'economically), SBY should raise fuel price. But SBY doesn't want to do that, because this policy will danger the continuity of his second running phase (you know, I am talking about 2009 election). Then, he can't do anything except dreaming that crude oil price were less than $60. That's why SBY is always angry to the people that are dreaming in front of his face.

If I were the decision maker, I would have raised the price of fuel, distributed certain subsidies to the right beneficiaries. I would convene some ministers and Pertamina's board of directors and ordain to deliver what I thought. 'Do not corrupt!'. They should be capable to manage, if they couldn't, I would take other people to replace them. Done.

But hey, he can sleep well even though Lapindo's mud continues drowning more villages in Porong - Sidoarjo and his minister is enjoying the mud and bring him as the richest man in Indonesia.

Wow, I got headache and I can't sleep anymore.

Update:
There was a visitor who gives us a valuable link about what is happening in around Lapindo's mud. You can visit: http://korbanlapindo.blogspot.com and http://www.korbanlapindo.net.

Has Economic Crisis been Over?

An op-ed opinion in Koran Sindo (March 27th, 2008) written by my colleague at Bappenas, Eko Purwanto (he reposted at Lesehan Taman Suropati), is a good light for people that are thinking as Indonesia Vice President that has statement that economic crisis was over.

Eko says that by comparing per capita income and export volume in 1997, 1998 and 2007 is not enough to judge that economic crisis has gone. He shows in a good way to interpret economy data and suggests to be careful for making judgment to the data. Very good indeed and agreed.

Once upon in China

I have nice stories from my last traveling in China (March 22nd - 28th, 2008). First, this story is about how to make autonomy and decentralization more effective and efficient, and it can be seen in here and here. Second, it is about the welfare of China's workers, and the link is in here and here. Those stories have answered a part of my curiosity to a country that has been growing fast in a decade lately.

Ni hou...? Ups, I am sorry, I should say, "tse tse..."

Bus way, oh bus way

These are the pictures that I am seeing every morning. I go to bus way shelter, wait Trans Jakarta's buses, let them go because they are full of passengers. I need about half to an hour (or 5 to 9 buses arrive) to meet a bus that I can come in to.
The bus way line has been sterilized for 2 weeks, but the number of Trans Jakarta buses are still limited. If you want to enjoy bus way you should be patient to wait a bus and ready to meet a crowded bus.

And the result is that another line is trapped in traffic. All vehicles use limited lines. I want to propose that how if motorcycle can use bus way line. You will see, not too helpful, it will reduce a turmoil in the traffic line.

Sentul today

Last week end I and my family went to Sentul City. We didn't have any agenda except to get a beautiful panorama for refreshing our eyes and brain. But we got something terrible that there were amazing hills that lost because of development.

Not surprisingly that our environment is getting bad.
Update:
My senior colleague, Edy Satriya has wonderful story and picture from Lima, Peru. Peru is different with us. Peru has and manage their green land, we lost it.

Anggito Abimanyu: Play Hard, No Work

This is not a tv station slogan, this is about the behavior of this guy when leading a teamwork for Ministry of Finance Meeting in Conference of Climate Change last December 2007 ago. I was very disappointed to know that the substance of the meeting was developed by World Bank entirely. Anggito and his team (including M Chatib Basri and Fiscal Policy Agency staff members) were just EO (event organizer).

It is too dangerous to commend an important duty that brings national interest to an agent that has self-interested. I also have this story in different view.

What had he been doing during the preparation? He had been practicing orchestra in order to perform on UNFCCC Gala Dinner. So he is 'play hard, no work'.