TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Your letters: Red card for sports minister

Even as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is getting out the handcuffs, so I hear and read, Indonesians have already partially forgiven former youth and sports minister Andi Mallarangeng for whatever he has done, or has neglected to do

The Jakarta Post
Thu, December 20, 2012

Share This Article

Change Size

Your letters: Red card for sports minister

E

ven as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is getting out the handcuffs, so I hear and read, Indonesians have already partially forgiven former youth and sports minister Andi Mallarangeng for whatever he has done, or has neglected to do.

His resignation has been viewed as gentlemanly and honorable, and one writer said he did so because he was facing “legal problems”. In reality, the man resigned because he was allegedly part of massive state corruption, bearing in mind that if he was totally innocent, he would still be the minister.

Nobody resigns if they have done nothing wrong, but he was probably in a no-choice situation and thus told to get on his bike.

This is all President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono needs, although there is more to come. However, he needs this one out the way as soon as possible what with the upcoming 2014 elections.

It will probably not make a great deal of difference as the damage has already been done. His only hope is that the electorate appreciates that all political parties are just as corrupt as the Democratic Party.

No doubt as Andi was led out of office by the KPK officers, the remaining staff was all saying under their breath: “There for the grace of God go.” This would also apply to quite a number of lawmakers in the “house of reprobates” and probably to a big chunk of Indonesian regional and local government officials.

As youth and sports minister, Andi has been red carded by Yudhoyono, who must be totally relieved that he cannot stand for a third term as president.

But all of this is far from over, as Italy’s Berlusconi shows, the president may need to retain influence in the new administration to protect his personal interests.

Most people, if not all, consider it impossible to work in a totally corrupt environment unless you are corrupt yourself — an assumption no doubt, but one that is hard to dismiss. Perhaps it is better to say that the resignation was inevitable and that Andi goes in disgrace like all the others before him should have done but didn’t.

This is not to be unkind toward the man because there is hardly a chance of survival in the corridors of power without dipping your hands in the till. It is, of course, a chance for Yudhoyono to take the bull by the horns and do something positive, but on based on his past track record that looks unlikely, especially as no one seems to take any notice of what he says.

It is a sorry state of affairs all around and yet another bad example to the young people of this country. Maybe one day the referee will blow the whistle on Indonesia and abandon the whole match.

David Wallis

Medan

{

Your Opinion Counts

Your thoughts matter - share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.