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peaking in the recent party congress, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman said: President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla '€œmust toe the party line because the party policies are consistent with what the public wants'€.

It would be far more accurate, and indeed truthful, if the two instances of the word '€œparty'€ and single instance of the word '€œpublic'€ were replaced in each case with the word '€œMegawati'€. Reading between the lines it is pretty much apparent that she really has no real interest in what the pubic actually wants at all.

Sadly, nothing really changes very much for the better in Indonesia, at least in terms of politics. I suppose the only thing that is truly novel about the current administration is that this time around Indonesia actually has two presidents.

I never expected Jokowi himself to be another Lee Kuan Yew (despite some of Lee'€™s more obvious faults) and I wasn'€™t expecting miracles either, but I was hopeful and optimistic that Indonesia was at last going to have a president who would use his invested presidential authority for the benefit of all Indonesian people and not just for the well being of the rich and influential (read corrupt and powerful) and at least make a start in political reform for future leaders to follow as an example of good governance.

Unfortunately the President'€™s performance so far personally disappointed me and seems to have belied his apparent achievements as past governor of Jakarta also. As governor at least he had the benefit and advantage of a personal enforcer as a deputy and, who with firm character, was not scared to actually follow matters through on the governor'€™s behalf and benefit irrespective of corrupt official opposition in addition to personal attacks and malicious smears on his lineage and religion!

May Ling Pfe
Jakarta