Foreign Consultants
Aug 1st, 2007, in Business & Economy, News, by PatungNo more foreign consultants should be hired by government agencies.
Vice-president Jusuf Kalla advised all government ministries and agencies to no longer employ foreign experts and consultants, in order that Indonesia learn to develop and move forward under its own steam.
Jusuf Kalla.
Speaking at the opening of the 2007 National Technology Meeting in Serpong, Banten, he said:
If we keep asking for foreign help then let’s just abolish the ministry of Research and Technology. Aren’t you professors and doctors ashamed if everything depends on foreigners and you only serve foreigners?
Kalla also criticised the luxurious lifestyles of high public servants, as to be seen in the expensive cars they are driven around in. The country would advance via hard work, he said, not by those who are supposed to be advancing it living the high life. kompas
50 Comments on “Foreign Consultants”
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Shiva says:
Just think trains, boats and planes ..
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WP says:
I suppose foreigners don’t have relevant previous experience in KKN, so aren’t suited to Indonesia.
Actually, the Dutch invented KKN. But Indonesians are the one that developed it to the mass production level, of which indeed no foreigner is sufficiently knowledgeable. Kalla fears this secret science will leak if we allow too many foreign advisors.
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Naga says:
“Kalla fears this secret science will leak if we allow too many foreign advisors.”
Kalla fears his empirical ambitions will be exposed if he allows too many foreign advisors…
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Dimp says:
I think his intention is good, just the method is a bit too harsh, I agree that we as Indonesian, who has claimed independence for 60-odd years should be independent.
But his majesty Jusuf Kalla is forgetting one thing, the rampant nepotism in the government where intelligent and able people are not being overlooked, rather than employing these able people the government prefer to put their friends – families – contributor first.
So the change should start at the top, show the people that when you are capable and have the experience to do something that they will be hired, hire people based on their merit, not on their status, regardless of age, sex, religion, race. Start by weeding the Indonesian cabinet first, start by dismissing under-performed Ministers.
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FiR says:
In 1980s when Mahathir was the PM of Malaysia, he encouraged the government agencies to employ experts from various countries including Japan and wanted the foreign experts to share their skills to the locals. In 1990s-2000s, we witnessed the fast growing of Malaysia in industry and economy. Malaysian brands such as Proton, MAS have already reached as far as the UK, Europe and Australia. The monetary crisis did so little to shake its economy and people.
Now this unrealistic Kalla thinks Indonesian is ready enough not to employ foreign experts. For example, the poor management of Indonesian transport system (airliners, PT KA, etc) already showed how incompetent the local agencies are. Such a pathetic Kalla…
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Falcon says:
Indonesians has long been preached by countless foreign consultants. It is true that Indonesia has somewhat advanced but it is eating the dust compare to its close neighbour Singapore, sadly falling behind Malaysia and moreless Thailand. China is advancing extremely fast but was once behind Indonesia and that it is a reality. Apparently there are no public servants dare enough to admit that they personally have benefited from all the consultations received but unwilling to express that implementing changes is nearly impossible due to corruption, bureaucrats haggling and a culture barrier consequently there is no trickle down effect. There were thousands of seminars presented by foreign consultants in past decades who are racking in hundreds millions of dollars but sadly the country is still facing countless problems. May be Vice President Yusuf Kalla is correct after all. In the past much of the financial aids and loans to the government carry covenants where foreign consultants must be employeed and it simply indicates that public servants are incapable. After all these years is Indonesia still behind? And not advancing as fast as the other neighbouring countries.
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Achmad Sudarsono says:
Friend,
Mr. Falon is speak the Truth. Friend, the fact that the foreign consultants have not solved our problems is an absolute abomination. Friend, if they can’t solve our problems, who can? Friend, Indonesia needs ideology, not skill. We need words, not will. Blaming foreigners is always a good choice: what have foreigners done for us, Friend?
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Enigmatic says:
And what has Jusuf Kalla who is becoming more and more a JoKe done?
By discouraging local companies to hire foreigners, it will only deter that select group of people who even have the sanity of wanting to work here.
To the few who thinks JK’s move is right,let me ask you this. Who’s to blame for causing Indonesia not to advance as quickly as her neighbours? Foreigners?
Sure! Go ahead!! They are SOO guilty they should be hanged, quartered, beheaded and gang r***d. Happy now?
Or do we blame the clowns who, directly or otherwise, run the country and toss it into the shambles we’re in now?
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KSJ says:
Yes, that is really the right decision. We can rely on our students who return from western countries after they finish their studies. Stop western invasion in Indonesia!
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Bas says:
Good! We now have all the ingredients. That’s the final touch to the total collapse of the country lol! The only people who prevent the country from sinking are sent back home. Let’s see the result in 10 years. 😉
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We can rely on our students who return from western countries after they finish their studies.
I wonder how many of Indonesian top students realy return….
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WP, have you counted all of them? Bas, if you dont like this country, why dont you go back to where you come from? You’d be better off there.
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To WP:
well, the question should be like this: have you made a census about them? Can you name all of Indonesian top students? I need fact as proof. Bet you can’t answer these two simple questions.Good! We now have all the ingredients. That’s the final touch to the total collapse of the country lol! The only people who prevent the country from sinking are sent back home. Let’s see the result in 10 years.
Yes, we will see positive results in 10 years of course as I have seen very positive economic, social and politic progresses in Indonesia since Soeharto resigned until now. It will be better in 10 years, you’ll see.
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Aluang Anak Bayang says:
Brother, 10 years from now, you will see camel roaming around the streets.
Why bother going to school when we have all the answers? Remember your good old school days, a mathematic textbook contained all the answers over the last pages. Yes, we have the last pages. All we need to do is to repent for our sin and we will be on our way to economic recovery, scientific advancement and discovery marvel. Bro, it is that easy. By the way, we don’t need foreign brains, most of the scientific inventions were foretold in Quran and there is nothing new that kaffir can show us that is not in the quran.
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Aluang, man… I feel sorry for you…. you are astray and have gone crazy… Indonesians say kamu orang sinting.
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To WP:
well, the question should be like this: have you made a census about them? Can you name all of Indonesian top students? I need fact as proof.Sorry, I don’t have numbers. Not even Depdikbud has that numbers. But in my time I knew quite a lot of Indonesian students in some european countries. Many return, but guess who are among who don’t: the tops. From my own SMA year, the top 3 didn’t return. Perhaps there is something structural in this picture…
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Cukurungan says:
KSJ Says:
Aluang, man”¦ I feel sorry for you”¦. you are astray and have gone crazy”¦ Indonesians say kamu orang sinting.
Cukurungan :
No Sorry gentleman , he wasn’t gone crazy just in bit confusion caused by effects of re-education and de-magicalation under my supervision.
Trust me once he completed his re-education he will becomes one of Indonesia Brightest Students such as :
1. Hambali
2. Al Gozi
3. Amrozi -
WP, if you dont have fact, so your argument is not trustable.
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Thanks Cuk for your comment. We good moslems should stick together, doing what we possibly can to prevent another tsunami and earthquake. As long as we stand in solidarity, disaster will hit Great Syaitan’s land (see the bridge collapse). That wretched ape had been scuffing your nose too many times that our moslem bros thought christmas is near. Arrgh, it glows in the dark.
I urge more and more moslem bros and sis to be vigilant and more proactive against dishonest foreign elements. We have the numbers, we have faith, and best of all, we have God on our side.
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We can rely on our students who return from western countries after they finish their studies.
I wonder how many of Indonesian top students realy return”¦.
I won’t be brazen enough to say that I am the brightest student. But I dare say I am in the top 10%. Cos the results on my exam slip a few years ago says so.
I am an Indonesian but I am appalled at the way people treat people of certain races here. And to me, religion and politics should not mix because they can become discriminatory. Yet, look what’s happening here.
Hence don’t bet on me helping Indonesia after my studies. I want to help the country, but I still want my life too. And the lives of my loved ones.
But in my time I knew quite a lot of Indonesian students in some european countries. Many return, but guess who are among who don’t: the tops. From my own SMA year, the top 3 didn’t return.
Well considering that these people may get much higher pay elsewhere, why bother coming back to all sorts of sh*t, such as… (not commenting)
For example, look at Singapore’s strategies in wooing foreign talent. Well, I am studying there so I know what’s going on here.
I was on the train going downtown for stuff and I met this team of 4 people from 4 countries, India, Malaysia, China. Well, the last person was from Indonesia. (I could tell from her accent when speaking to the group). She was the leader in some programme by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). Apparently she has settled down here and she was talking about all the benefits of staying here, such as the starting pay here compared to the Indian rupees or Malaysian ringgit or the Chinese RMB, the cleanliness of the civil service here, and… the safety.
Those are factors which deter top students from Indonesia from returning home to contribute. Need I say more?
Then again there’s definitely plenty of other fishes in the water, some way bigger, way stronger and way better than me. That I am very very sure.
I am sure I don’t get priority because my family’s no big shot here and I am taught the importance of having a CLEAN and MERITOCRATIC Civil Service in school. I don’t think I can play dirty.
Can Indonesia do that? Will they do that?
PS: I still love Indonesia. I was born there and raised there till those blasted riots.
What am I? I am just a free thinker. I am enigmatic.
Cheers.
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Dear Enigmatic,
Those are factors which deter top students from Indonesia from returning home to contribute. Need I say more?
Sorry if I sound like blaming our ex students that do not return. I don’t. Like you pointed out, it is everyone’s individual right. My point being the simple observation that Indonesia should fear top talent exodus. Btw, for the same reasons as yours, I left.
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Parvita says:
Foreign consultants in the government agencies? Which agencies and what consultants? And what for?
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Aluang :
Thanks Cuk for your comment. We good moslems should stick together, doing what we possibly can to prevent another tsunami and earthquake.
Cukurungan:
Oh my GUN, you didn’t get it yet…. did you forget that tsunami and earthquake have been pre-destined 50 thousand years before the big bang happened and nothing we can do but remember your duties is to cast confusion and desperation among un-believers and remember now you’re a God bear anyone who dare to enter your land must be grounded and tumbled down, don’t give them any chances to stand-up or raise their hand higher than yourself.
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Sputjam says:
hiring consultants is one way of getting kickbacks.
Consultancy fee vary widely.
Who is to know what constitutes consultancy fees.
If you blocked foreigners from the consultancy jobs, the Indonesian will merely get the job and hire the foreigners instead, back to back. In the latter case, the consultancy fee will be higher due to to local involvement.Maybe that was what JK meant.
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WP Says:
August 7th, 2007 at 12:49 am
Dear Enigmatic,Those are factors which deter top students from Indonesia from returning home to contribute. Need I say more?
Sorry if I sound like blaming our ex students that do not return. I don’t. Like you pointed out, it is everyone’s individual right. My point being the simple observation that Indonesia should fear top talent exodus. Btw, for the same reasons as yours, I left.
Ahh!! Great minds think alike.
Ok so where u settling down now?
Singapore?
Hong Kong?
China?
Malaysia?
US? -
Dear All,
I think what JK is saying is pretty simple:
Kick out the Bules.
Once we do that, 90 % of our problems will take care of themselves.
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KSJ says:
Enigmatic says:
I am an Indonesian but I am appalled at the way people treat people of certain races here. And to me, religion and politics should not mix because they can become discriminatory. Yet, look what’s happening here.
I know that Indonesians are quite racist towards an ethnic/racial group (should I mention it? We know exactly which one). I was born Indonesian and I grew up there. Now I live in Europe, hold one of EU citizenships, and work for the local government. I’ve been away from Indonesia for some quite long time and the last time I visited, I saw major social and economic changes in the country. Things which I didn’t see during the Soeharto regime like press freedom, religious freedom and cultural freedom for the Chinese community. I was quite happy to see those changes there. The per capita income has tripled from merely US$500 in 1998 to US$1,600 in 2006, I know it’s still far away from Western standard, but it is significant for Indonesia which was known for its sluggish economic growth. I was so glad to hear that the Indonesian president cancelled CGI last January, a huge step to cut debts flow to the country.
Dear Enigmatic, I just want to remind you that Western countries DO NOT CARE about the Indonesian people (I am wondering why Indonesians adore white people so much as whites DO NOT adore Indonesians). They lend money (debts) disguised as financial help or reliefs or so whatever which should be returned with huge interests (that’s a burden to the Indonesian economies). Western consultants hired in Indonesia will conduct everything in the sake of benefits for western countries not for Indonesia. Please note that! I live in Europe and I know what they think about third world countries. I hope the Indonesian government would not make the same mistakes as Soeharto, selling his own country to the westerners in order to enrich himself and his family and of course, enrich western countries and leave Indonesia so poor.
OK, fine, you study abroad and will work in the country you are currently in. You earn a modest salary which is a huge one if you convert it to rupiah. It’s your own problem and decision if you do not want to go back to Indonesia. But the country is doing well as far as I can see, there are still lots but LOTS of things to sort out in Indonesia, I know. I believe the democratic Indonesian government will get through it all. -
DoOs says:
JK is doing the right thing. :D.
Because 80% of foreign professionals and macroeconomic experts develop liberal values which accounts for individualistic approach. What we need here for Indoenesia is more of a Socialist approach and forming a Socialism reformation; I hate democracy. It’s a label for a cause 😛 – truth is, behind it is simply theories of a mix. You can mix supply side, classical, protectionism, monetarism, fiscal – walah there goes a none free market that is considered free market. Rebellions of the free markets shape themselves into a monetaristic nation itself like England, I call that hypocrisy.
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Factors stopping me from wanting me to help Indonesia.
I was on the train going downtown for stuff and I met this team of 4 people from 4 countries, India, Malaysia, China. Well, the last person was from Indonesia. (I could tell from her accent when speaking to the group). She was the leader in some programme by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). Apparently she has settled down here and she was talking about all the benefits of staying here, such as the starting pay here compared to the Indian rupees or Malaysian ringgit or the Chinese RMB, the cleanliness of the civil service here, and”¦ the safety.
As you can see I placed safety behind the Ellipsis (…) as the last factor. This is done to show that that’s the most important factor why Im not keen to work here. After all, as they say, leave the best for the last right?
KSJ Says:
August 16th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Dear Enigmatic, I just want to remind you that Western countries DO NOT CARE about the Indonesian people (I am wondering why Indonesians adore white people so much as whites DO NOT adore Indonesians). They lend money (debts) disguised as financial help or reliefs or so whatever which should be returned with huge interests (that’s a burden to the Indonesian economies). Western consultants hired in Indonesia will conduct everything in the sake of benefits for western countries not for Indonesia. Please note that! I live in Europe and I know what they think about third world countries. I hope the Indonesian government would not make the same mistakes as Soeharto, selling his own country to the westerners in order to enrich himself and his family and of course, enrich western countries and leave Indonesia so poor.
Even when Kalla mentioned foreigners he didnt mention WESTERN foreigners. Neither did I in any of my 2 posts. So why are you being overassuming?
FiR Says:
August 3rd, 2007 at 8:07 pm
In 1980s when Mahathir was the PM of Malaysia, he encouraged the government agencies to employ experts from various countries including Japan and wanted the foreign experts to share their skills to the locals. In 1990s-2000s, we witnessed the fast growing of Malaysia in industry and economy. Malaysian brands such as Proton, MAS have already reached as far as the UK, Europe and Australia. The monetary crisis did so little to shake its economy and people.Now this unrealistic Kalla thinks Indonesian is ready enough not to employ foreign experts. For example, the poor management of Indonesian transport system (airliners, PT KA, etc) already showed how incompetent the local agencies are. Such a pathetic Kalla”¦
That’s why I say he’s a Jusuf Kalla is a JoKe right? Then again since so many people want to get foreign consultants out so much then let it be.
Comment on “Foreign Consultants”.
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JK seems to forget that sometimes foreigners sometimes have a bit more expertise on certain things, for example:
– Speaking English (check out the poor pronunciation on the busway and the strange translations in Monas).
– Drainage (the Dutch built the Western Flood Canal in a year, we’re still waiting for the Eastern one) and environmental protection.
– Occupational Health and Safety (look at the locals building a house, and you’ll see what I mean)
– Banking and Finance (a major factor in the 1997 financial crisis)
Then again, I suppose foreigners don’t have relevant previous experience in KKN, so aren’t suited to Indonesia.