President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says that corruption is the greatest problem facing Indonesia and that it can be overcome within a generation.

Sby said:

Maybe I’m too optimistic but I believe it will happen. This is what happened in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Yes, too optimistic O Leader, and the people in the those small city-states you mentioned are made of different stuff to Indonesians, with different err, values and culture.

Speaking at a conference of the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO), or Interpol, in Jakarta, he said that the police had to be in the front line in the fight against corruption.

Did he mean the Indonesian police? Some of the leadership of the Indonesian police force, as well as some special units like the anti-terror squad Detachment 88, are made of the right stuff but of the remainder little good can be said.

In any case his comments were likely made with a view to his later meeting with Paul Wolfowitz of the World Bank. Tempo reports that the representative of the rich world would convey the message to Sby that corruption had to be dealt with.

We will embark on a new big effort with KPK to eradicate corruption.

Wolfowitz said, referring to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Eradicating corruption is certainly a fine goal but what it would take is likely a radical realignment of cultural and religious forces in the country which is highly unlikely to happen short of a miracle or some happy catastrophe.