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Issues: Many attaches cannot speak English'
Many Indonesian attaches lack basic language competency, some are even unable to speak English, an official said Wednesday
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Many Indonesian attaches lack basic language competency, some are even unable to speak English, an official said Wednesday.
"Incompetent Indonesian attaches keep disrupting the goals set by our ambassadors," said Imron Cotan, the secretary-general of the Foreign Ministry, during a hearing at the House of Representatives.
"I found a number of our attaches are poor at speaking English. Every time their counterparts from the home government wanted to meet them, they freak out, seeking ways to avoid the meeting like asking for *bed rest' recommendations from the doctor." Imron, along with a number of top officials from other ministries, attended a hearing with the members of House Commission I on information, defense, and foreign affairs to evaluate the performance of Indonesian diplomats.
Imron said the selection process for attaches was the responsibility of the attaches' original institutions. He suggested that government agencies use the minimal Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 as one of the requirements to make candidates eligible to be posted as attaches.
Your comments:
Nepotism paves the way for incompetent civil servants. There is no excuse for a diplomat who may represent his or her country abroad being unable to master the English language. Learn and utilize it. Shame, shame, shame.
Edwin R.
Jakarta
It is time for attache candidates to have IELTS test rather than TOEFL as TOEFL only measures their receptive capabilities of listening, grammar and vocabulary.
By taking an IELTS test, they will be required to have productive skills such as the ability to engage in a debate and write argumentative essays as well as deal with cross-cultural understanding.
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry should be more progressive by pushing their attaches to promote their countries' interests in international arenas through articles to local English-language newspapers or magazines. Otherwise, Indonesia will be less known than Bali!
Muh Arif Rokhman
London
Not surprising. The "application fee" charged to be able to join the Foreign Ministry doesn't stipulate anywhere an ability to speak English. Also, the "gift" given to their English language instructors at school in advance of their passing grade (even an A if the gift was nice enough) is an issue.
Scot
Bandung
I think this article is completely misleading and biased, in the way that Imron Cotan is openly targeting just the technical attaches (non-foreign ministry officials).
What about Indonesian Foreign Ministry itself? The fact not stated here is that a significant number of Indonesian Foreign Ministry officials, among them ambassadors, have a poor grasp of the English language plus lack the knowledge and skills to perform and defend Indonesia diplomatically.
Moreover, the article directly quoted that: "*Incompetent Indonesian attaches keep disrupting the goals set by our ambassadors,' said Imron Cotan, the secretary-general of Foreign Ministry, during a hearing at the House of Representatives".
When Cotan refers to "incompetent", is it in terms of language, professional or management skills, analytical ability or the overall performance of an attache? Are all attaches in all Indonesian embassies all over the world deemed incompetent? (There may be about 150 Indonesian embassies/consulates general worldwide).
These need to be clarified further by Cotan, and The Jakarta Post should be more careful in putting a story into perspective. This is a serious allegation from Cotan and, for the record, I've heard Cotan speak in English, and it is not that good a standard for a secretary-general of a foreign ministry.
Ditto Poerbo
Washington DC
Imron Cotan is trying to fend off accusations of the lack of professionalism of his own ministry by blaming other ministries that have attaches abroad, such as the education, agriculture, defense, trade, and religious affair ministries as well as immigration and the national police.
These attaches are officials appointed to represent Indonesian national interests, specifically their ministries. Most have proficient English skills, and all are competent professionals in their fields, and masters of diplomacy.
The Indonesian foreign ministry is trying to find culprits to cover for their own diplomats, many of whom can't communicate with their counterparts abroad, and many corrupt officials that disregard the welfare of our republic abroad.
Let's ask Cotan if his ministry has already fulfilled all of its roles, e.g. representing, reporting, negotiating, protecting and promoting, properly?
Mohhamad Ali
Jakarta
