New President Without Honeymoon

NEW PRESIDENT WITHOUT HONEYMOON By Dahlan Iskan, general chairman of the Association of Press Companies Jakarta, July 24 (Antara) - This is a new president and vice president without honeymoon. An example that fits Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Jusuf Kalla (JK). Jokowi`s call not to be carried away by the election victory with big celebrations and that the change in symbolic two finger with three finger greeting showed that the new bride and bridegroom virtually had no time for honeymooning. I am for all of that. Of course I understand that some of the people giving voluntary support for Jokowi are disappointed. Some of them say "it is only natural to celebrate big success after hard work." There are a number of factors giving reasons that honeymoon is not necessary. First, the victory margin is not very wide with Jokowi winning only 53 percent of the votes. It was not as high as 60 percent garnered by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) in the last presidential election. Secondly, Jokowi`s rival refused to acknowledge defeat. The rival camp did not give up easily. They (Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa) even looks set to find any way possible politically and judicially to block the way for Jokowi-JK to full victory. Thirdly, the economic condition is just not favorable - weak rupiah, the trade and balance of payment deficits , and threat of deficit in the state budget and swelling energy subsidy and many more other economic hurdles. These all have to be sorted out with hard work , not with rhetoric or leaflets . Those are reasons enough for Jokowi-JK not to spend time for honeymooning. Just get to work immediately. The first job is to cooperate with the government especially in preparing the draft state budget for next year. The outgoing President SBY still holds the authority to propose the draft state budget for 2015, but implementation of the state budget would be the next government under President Jokowi. Mr Jokowi must not work on budget he did not know about. If that is the case he could not be expected to fulfill his promises he gave during his pre-election campaign. The people would demand fulfillment of the promises. The demand for the fulfillment will especially be strong. Just don`t forget, the Red and White Coalition (the rival camp) will closely watch for any mistake made by Jokowi in bringing to reality all his promises. Volunteers who had thrown political support for the Jokowi camp in pre-election campaigns could be very critical of his policy. Fortunately SBY indicated willingness to invite the president elect to take part in preparing the 2015 budget bill, although Jokowi would be officially installed as president only on October 20. The 2015 budget bill is currently being prepared to be submitted to the House of Representatives (DPR) next month. It must not be delayed. Mr Jokowi has to include his main programs in the budget bill to ensure the budget fund is available for the implementation of the program next year. Take for example, the health budget. This year, the budget for the Health Social Security Operator (BPJS) is set only at Rp16.5 trillion. It is not considered enough. There were already many complaints from patients and doctors. In my estimate the budget for BPJS should be at least Rp35 trillion. This is not right as the ones to benefit from the BPJS are the people not a number of corrupt officials. "If you want to help the poor do it right," SBY once said. Another example, the budget for pesantren (Islamic boarding schools), PAUD and privately run schools. The budget for education is as big as a swelling giant. It is time sufficient part of the fund is set for pesantren and PAUD. And that part should be included in the 2015 budget bill. The case is the same with research and subsidies on fertilizers and food crop seeds, that President Jokowi could immediately embark on his program next year. In political sector, the big agenda is replacement of almost all members of the the Supreme Audit Board (BPK). It is different with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Financial Service Authority (OJK). The DPR has full authority in conducting registration, selection and election of the BPK members. Selection of the members of the KPK and OJK is by an independent body. The result of the selection would be submitted to DPR for election. In the case of BPK it is fully in the hands of DPR. Political deals would be highly dominant marking the process of selection and election. The government of Jokowi would be a frequent target of politically motivated allegations if all elected members of BPK are from the opposition. It is not unlikely that BPK and DPR colluded to make it difficult for the government. Therefore, it is worth considering quota system in the membership of BPK say for example, 50 percent of the members come from the career officials , who have long experience as auditors at the BPK or the development financial watchdog BPKP. The remaining 50 percent could be selected from non career persons. That way BPK would be less likely be made a political arena. Or other more effective composition . Indeed, it is a new government which does not need honeymooning, could afford honeymooning and has no time for honeymooning.