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Better to reform the system
This mental revolution is the key to changing the mindset of the people, especially civil servants in the bureaucracy, so that they can rid themselves of the values inherited from the New Order.
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, together with State Secretary Pratikno and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (Antara/Widodo S Jusuf)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is one of those idealists whose line of thinking is descended from the likes of Aristotle and Plato, people who believe that ideas and thoughts move the world and that changes in the world should begin in the mind. Hence his idea is about the “mental revolution”.
The idea began life as a proposal outlined in an op-ed for Kompas in May 2014 and was then adopted as a kind of manifesto for his presidential campaign, and when he was elected into office it was adopted as part of his bureaucratic reform agenda.
The premise of Jokowi’s mental revolution is simple enough; that all society’s ills such as corruption, greed, selfishness and intolerance to the point of violence are part of a “tradition” or “culture” that resides in the minds of people and all these problems could be banished through a campaign of mental revolution. This mental revolution is the key to changing the mindset of the people, especially civil servants in the bureaucracy, so that they can rid themselves of the values inherited from the New Order.
The first point in Jokowi’s mental revolution agenda for instance was an instruction for civil servants to focus on providing services for the public and that they should improve discipline and transparency, including through e-government initiatives.
Early in Jokowi’s administration, efforts were made to translate what appeared to be a nebulous suggestion into practical proposals. In 2016, President Jokowi signed a regulation to kick off the National Mental Revolution, while the Office of the Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister conducted various activities to publicize the program through radio talk shows, contests and the creation of a special website. Under the mental revolution banner, the Defense Ministry floated the idea of a military-like conscription to instill patriotism in young people. The Education and Culture Ministry also proposed longer school hours so that students could learn more about civics and morality.
After four years, the record would suggest that little has been achieved. In 2017, Indonesia’s Corruption Perception Index improved slightly to 37, from 34 in 2014, but civil servants still made up the bulk of individuals investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) between 2014 and 2018, accounting for over 30 percent of graft cases it handled.
With this less-than-convincing record, it is probably a good time for President Jokowi, who is seeking reelection and definitely in need of a rejigged campaign slogan, to shift his attention to revamping the system. People can inherently be good or evil, but in the final analysis, they will respond to incentives (or disincentives) provided by the system. A bureaucratic system tends to encourage corrupt practices if it fails to provide a robust mechanism of carrot and stick — reward achievers and punish those who do not perform.
Pairing the word “revolution” with “the system,” would provoke unnecessary fear among members of the public. “Reform the system” would be a more fitting term for Jokowi, if the people decide to extend his mandate for another five years.
