D

ear President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo,

I do not write letters often. However, the recent situation has motivated me to do so. I hope this letter finds you well.

We are facing global economic gloom. As with other global currencies, our rupiah has been slowly weakening against the US dollar since last year.

My simple desktop research using Bank Indonesia'€™s database shows the rupiah exchange (selling) rate has weakened 1,537 basis points from Rp 11,846 (July 27, 2014) to Rp 13,383 per dollar (July 3, 2015).

Of course there are ups and downs. Your inauguration on Oct. 20, 2014, and the announcement regarding the Cabinet six days later marked a slight strengthening of the rupiah.

A similar situation happened by the end of last December. However, the weakening trend continues.

The good news is: The rupiah only weakens against the dollar. The bad news: it weakens.

Those who are not too lazy to do research indeed understand the dollar has become stronger against other global currencies thanks to the US Federal Reserve governor'€™s policy in a bid to stimulate the US economy.

The US'€™ economic stimulus and the quantitative easing work. Therefore, blaming the weakening rupiah on your presidency is obviously a far-fetched conclusion and a desperate action any Indonesian could do.

However, finger-pointing at the President is widespread and is well captured by some politicians who would like to gain from this situation.

Therefore, I strongly suggest you explain to the Indonesian people that we are moving forward although the global economy is not moving much.

Show them that the government'€™s spending has started and will in turn move the economy.

Tell them there is no instant solution for our problem. We just need to ensure every item of infrastructure needed for this nation to take off is ready.

Have you ever tried to Google your name? Doing so is not necessarily a sign of narcissistic behavior. It is also a gesture that a public figure must research all feedback to himself or herself.

I hope you still have time to do so. I did it to your name through two channels: google.co.uk and google.co.id.

Perhaps you would find '€œJokowi lengser'€ (Jokowi steps down) in the second line of the first search engine'€™s auto text. A similar result in the latter shows that the phrase ranks third.

The search results obviously show some of the most-typed phrases in relation to your name on the gigantic search engine.

How come Indonesian Internet users are typing '€œJokowi steps down'€ only nine months after your inauguration? Is it a sign that your haters (who lost hope after their favorite presidential candidate lost) are still carrying out a guerrilla-like mission? Or is it also a sign that your fans have lost hope?

Perhaps your social media analyst could do the research on it. My point is: Do not let negative campaigns or issues undermine your Cabinet'€™s performance.

Furthermore, you are surely aware of the current political dynamic in which some parties have pushed the agenda for reshuffling your Cabinet.

These parties manage to alter the face of Indonesia that everyone hoped to achieve after you were elected last year: an optimistic nation. I hope you are undeterred by those politicians.

I doubt these politicians really think about our nation instead of their parties'€™ or personal interests. Do they really understand that every reshuffle will mean prolonged uncertainties within the ministries?

We have learned so well that recent ministerial nomenclature changes have shown the true face of some public servants within our bureaucracy: Some have been less-motivated because they do not know what to do.

Some other public servants'€™ gestures toward the reshuffle issues seemed to say '€œwhat'€™s in it for me?'€ It is obviously not because of your ministers'€™ performance.

It is mainly to do with the character of those people at all levels who your ministers should oversee. It is the right time for your ministers to do the right thing and take firmer action for the sake of the nation.

You only need to encourage them to pass through this political noise.

I would like to offer some friendly advice. Yes, as a friend (I went to Gadjah Mada University'€™s School of Forestry some years after you). I would like to see you stand up and tell those noisy politicians, '€œBe quiet!'€

Many Indonesians still have hopes you are able to lead the nation through this situation.

This nation needs to get rid of political adventurers who try to gain or confront you with your ministers.

The political noise does not help our economy at all. It is a crucial time to show that Indonesians are working, instead of gossiping or dirty-politicking.
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I strongly suggest you explain to the Indonesian people that we are moving forward although the global economy is not moving much.
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The writer is a lead expert for EU/ADB-supported Basic Education Minimum Service Standards (BE MSS) Campaign. The views expressed are his own.