WALK THE TALK, SIR!

WALK THE TALK, SIR!
By: Teuku Ramzy Farrazy
The famous Lingkaran Survey Indonesia (LSI) revealed Public satisfaction level has
drastically declining under 45% just on the 100th Days of Jokowi’s administrationi. It
bring only 42.29% of whom satisfied with the work of the -President –who-thengalvanized the nation . While the rest 53.71% are now demanding real action and some
ex of his biggest supporter have turn their back against himself for some fail promise .
The majority of Indonesian seen Jokowi as taking his early momentum for granted.
Series of questionable appointments and policies triggered by insubstantial programs
followed by too many of blusukan as some analyst says- rather than real substantive
action . This has been a vast dissatisfaction as 71.73% Indonesian as of August 2014
looked to him and eventually he winded up 53.15% national votes. Those who feel so,
comes from his voters on the presidential election 2014 ,which are women ,wong cilik or
poor people ,and rural Indonesians. We see how this big victory turns eventually into a
big questioning .
53.11% of Indonesian dissatisfied with Jokowi’s effort on Legal enforcement , fired by
controversial candidacy of Budi Gunawan , who officially graft suspected by KPK ,an
institution that grows weakened by design as of today. On economy, those who satisfied
during past 100 days are numbering 47.29% . This number getting lower since Jokowi’s
policy to raise the fuel price despite the low global oil price .While on Politics, 49.72% of
Indonesians feels dissatisfied of Jokowi’s lack of capability to solve the cold war with
KMP in parliament. Plus the poor record of some ministers has worsen the situation that
has already wasted by KPK-Polri conflict .
But 100 Days of Jokowi’s administration is incomplete without little appreciation on his
social and security. Those who in line with counts 53.86% on Social sectors being
largely contributed by Smart card and Health card idea. 57.40% Indonesians make up
satisfaction feeling on Security sector.
Extracting survey conducted by Indopolling Network,ii The high percentage variable
were over 70% for the public trust levels, emphasized on more basic issues such as
accessible education and healthcare or basic economic relates. 78.5% Indonesian
trusts Jokowi on guarding interfaith tolerance,77.0% trusts Jokowi on growing spirits of
cooperation and 74.6% believing on his Healthy Indonesia Card program while so do
the 73.7% on Smart Indonesia Card. The survey also found 71.5% Indonesian believes
Jokowi could distributes a proper education for the low economic group and 70.0%
believes him on increasing their family’s prosperity.
While pollster Puspol Indonesia said that more extremely result of 74.6% of those whom
not in favor with the administration of Jokowi .The large factor of contribution was again,
the fuel hike which 44% Indonesians seeing this as wrong move taken. Moreover,
51.58% of them would unsure the diverting fund of fuel subsidies goes to the right way
for development spur in some productive sectors .According to Puspol’s report, policy of
Minister of Education, Anies Baswedan, as he postponed the curriculum 2013 as
unpopular decision with 27% says it could lead to confusion and 19% sees detrimental
for both teacher and student. While the most laudable one is Minister Susi for her
aggressive fight poaching Indonesia’s waters on sinking the vessel policy.
Another institute, namely Indo Barometer reveals new survey shows that public
approval of the Jokowi’s administration slumping, standing at only 57.5 percent, though
public perception of the presidential institution itself remains high, at 88.3 percent.
“…From the results of the survey it is very clear that immediate measures need
to be taken to improve the administration’s work performance. There is still a
chance [for improvement], as the favorable rating for the presidential institution is
still quite high even though public satisfaction in the President is low…” Indo
Barometer director M. Qodari said as quoted by Antara .iii
Conducted from March 13 to March 25, the survey involved 1,200 respondents in 34
provinces, with a margin of error of 3 percent and a trust level of 95 percent.
Former
coordinating
economic
minister
Rizal
Ramli
said
President
Jokowi
administration’s work performance was disappointing, commentary speaking. According
to him, the President’s ministers, especially those who were in the field of the economy,
were incapable.Jokowi’s economic ministers were unable to find a formula to cope with
the ongoing economic crisis aside from increasing commodity prices, yet only play high
profile being aired on television while they performed the blusukan .
This might be a big obstacle for Jokowi since dealing with small town is in fact way
much easier than managing a great country. Ever since, public puts five top demands
on him which actually describe what are really happening on his position:
1. To be independent from any given intervene on policy making.
This could be hardly possible since Indonesia’s political system has influenced by
Javanese political system that circling inside around the leader would bring more
benefit. Critics have been casted on Jokowi as his inability to defy Megawati’s
order on placing some of her trustees on the cabinet , or nearly associated to her
in some important post of the structure .Public slammed this as the highest stake
is to be losing credibility and trust .Around Jokowi, we have also seen NASDEM,
some ex generals, and many of oligarchs play important lobbying and demand
some give back from what have they brought to Jokowi’s presidential race
assistance .NASDEM named as one benefited the most this time .Surya Paloh,
the chief of NASDEM successfully made important deal with Chinese Sinangol
company on oil import business . Hendropriyono and family of Jusuf Kalla have
benefited more with this grace of Jokowi and How many minister on his Kabinet
Kerja is actually comes from professional? His cabinet yet screened by KPK has
eventually delivered to parties which NASDEM got significant posts such as
Ministry of Forestry and Ministry of Land reform and Agraria. The politics of take
and give in Indonesia has been a tradition that is hard to put aside , as long as it
is placed in a normal size- it would be acceptable in Indonesia’s politics.iv Like it
or not, Jokowi could not have set himself free from who are surrounding . Most
importantly, being intervened is one of the challenge of being president of
Indonesia. He is likely sought some other way to get away by planning for
cabinet reshuffle which likely to be done somewhere around April or May of
2015v . As some Indonesian are keep questioning, “Is now decision making being
processed at Teuku Umarvi instead of Istana Negara (National Palace)?
2. Jokowi to be learned of any given pushes coming from inside his KIH coalition,
indicated by poor quality of his cabinet.
3. Jokowi to be realized his major power which is his credibility on public’s eyes.
Losing his credibility means losing public’s support. He nearly does so.
4. High expectation on grouping KPK and MK (Constitutional Court) up as strategic
partner of him due to show healthy politics of Indonesia .
5. Jokowi to strengthen himself and not too rely on any party. This one is bearly
possible as Indonesia’s politics is a death valley for any independent player. To
run a position is one possible thing to do and to do so, it require him as a major
figure on a party ,and to be a chief of political party is not that easy . Jokowi
arrived in Jakarta as nobody and barely has supporters or anyone to know well.
This option perhaps one possible solution Jokowi has to stabilize his
government. If only he gain as chief of PDIP, he surely has got to offer more to
whom support him on it. Lean on his volunteer groups would no longer effective
way since volunteers have got themselves back to old daily business-with large
number of them are disappointed with him . Jokowi has got to take over the party
to secure his position.
Those demands seems innocently forgot one single thing that Jokowi’s victory was no
big deal without significant support from oligarchsvii. Namely Wanandi brothers,
prominent Chinese-Indonesian oligarchs playing actively in nation’s economy and
politics since the new order through the CSIS institute. The bigger player would always
play big to secure their interest and some of Jokowi’s closest ones are part of the game.
Oligarch in many times, would only show up whenever they feel their livelihood is
disturbed and plunge themselves to politics through a medium would be a rational
option . Jokowi apparently realized what could it be as he agreed the supportance but
one thing to remember, Prabowo was not without oligarchs too as his brother as well an
oligarch. This is just how the oligarch plays in two rooms.
Jokowi also criticized as a president who needs to bring his private spokesperson all the
time as he is not that good at giving speech particularly in English. However, this
political statement of him and his cabinet member marks his best of the best political
statement during 100 days:viii
1. Remarks to back up the local election (Pilkada). Supported by 82.85%
Indonesians.
2. Remarks by Minister of Marin and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti to sink any given
foreign vessels intrude the nation’s waters . Supported by 64.40% Indonesians.
3. Remarks by Jokowi to keep SBY’s man on board as the tension raising on Budi
Gunawan’s candidacy issue.
Moreover, Jokowi per se, is not really that good at speech, whatsoever make him as
national gag. Many associate him to Petruk Dadi Ratu, Petruk is a character of
Javanese mythology - naively dull – witted person appeals to be a leader of the
community. Javanese wisdom beliefs whoever lead one nation or society should be
intelligence and skillful personality – yet need to be wise also in decision making.
Communicative skills by some analysts argued as important thing a president should
possess, but other supporter defense him as stance the priority of walk the talk
synchronized with Jokowi’s slogan of work, work and work. Jokowi still, reflecting a low
profile – innocent being – leader .
*Written as it meant for evaluating public’s satisfaction level regarding Jokowi’s first 100 days.
Writer is a senior-year student, a part time researcher and interning for an international
development agency. The view expresses his own and none has related to what KSM UNAS
stands for.
i
Survey Report from Denny JA’s Lingkaran Survey Indonesia /LSI
Indonesia’s leading political research and consulting institute,released their national survey findings titled “
Measuring Public Trust on Jokowi-JK’s Nawacita” on Wednesday, 1/28/2015 at Warung Daun
Restaurant,Cikini,Central Jakarta. Presented by Wempy Hadir. Survey conducted on December 1-9,2014 sampling
1,100 respondent;with ±3% sampling error and 95% trust levels,in Multistage Random Methode. The survey
release followed by public discussion.
iii
See http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/06/slumping-approval-rating-jokowi-kalla-indobarometer.html
iv
According to Haemiwan Fathoni (interviewed on 1/15/2015)
v
According to Suryo AB (Interviewed on 2/24/2015)
vi
A high-end Street; namely Official residence of Megawati Soekarnoputri. As Teuku Umar house being the
centrum of her PDI-P strategy meeting including brief Jokowi over his policy making. This intrigued public when
Jokowi decided to move to Istana Bogor Palace as “make a little gap with Teuku Umar”.
vii
Focus Group Discussion on “Chinese Indonesian Oligarchs” by Mr. Yusuf Rais, Republic’s 1960’s activist on
11/27/2014 at the LESPERSSI secretariat, Jakarta.
viii
Draft Konpres LSI 100 Hari Jokowi
ii