WE join the rest of the world in offering felicitations, albeit belatedly, to the Indonesian people on officially raising 53-year-old Joko Widodo to their nation’s highest position last Monday. Based on authoritative reports, Widodo is eminently qualified to lead Indonesia’s 250 million people, who are spread throughout the more than 13,500 islands that make up the country.
In his record of public service, first as mayor of the small city of Solo and, later, as governor of Jakarta, Widodo exhibited sensitivity to his people’s needs by launching educational, health and livelihood programs, as well as awareness of the requirements of development by pursuing infrastructure and social projects.
He made frequent visits to his constituents in their communities to know their response to his programs. These visits became occasions for celebration and brought him closer to the people. His boyish personality made it easy for him to be an accepted member of people’s families.
Throughout his political life, he was never associated with any kind of corruption or wrongdoing.
Perhaps, the most notable thing about Widodo is his socioeconomic background. Born to a family living in the slums, he struggled to get an education to help his family get out of poverty. He worked as a furniture salesman for years prior to developing an interest in politics. He is the first person in Indonesia’s post-World War II history to be elected president, who has no link to the country’s military and elite.
During his inauguration, he made a number of commitments, including raising the Indonesian economy’s growth rate to 7 percent a year and sustaining it; abolishing a fuel subsidy that has overburdened the national budget; and stamping out corruption. He called on the Indonesian people to unite “hearts and hands” to achieve the nation’s objectives.
Before the 1980s Indonesia was the poorest among the so-called Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) 5. Now Indonesia is no longer the poorest; its leaders have devoted its resources to the elimination of poverty. Today there is still deprivation in Indonesia, but grinding poverty is a thing of the past, and slums have been transformed into livable communities. Indonesia is now moving toward the top of the Asean income pyramid.
It will not be all sweetness and light for Widodo, though. Indonesia’s vibrant democracy will see to it that the other side is felt and heard. Already, some of his Cabinet nominees are being rejected by the country’s commission on appointments. Still, there is every reason to believe that Indonesia, under Widodo’s presidency, will accomplish the tasks it has set for itself.
Again, congratulations to the Indonesian people, and we wish all the best for Widodo and his presidency.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano