Evaluating Three Years of Jokowi-Kalla
.
In the three years since Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Jusuf Kalla were elected as president and vice president, their administration has made several achievements. A number of priority programs in the administration’s Nawacita development agenda either have been achieved or are in progress. On the other hand, serious work in implementing a number of other programs is yet to be seen.
The priority programs currently in progress include the following.
First, the Jokowi-Kalla administration is visibly making efforts to establish clean, effective and democratic governance. Despite its many flaws, including the still-high occurrences of regional heads being arrested for corruption, our country’s governance has generally improved. Jakarta is the best example of significantly improved governance.
Secondly, in the past three years, Jokowi has executed one of his main programs of building Indonesia from its border areas by strengthening remote villages and regions within the framework of a unitary nation. This program of building the nation from its villages and peripheral regions aims to reduce gaps.
These efforts in non-Java-centric development, such as driving infrastructure projects in border areas and treating Papua equally with other provinces (as seen in the serious development projects on the island) are concrete efforts to reduce gaps.
Thirdly, the administration has made efforts to realize economic independence by driving strategic domestic sectors in order to drive the economy as a whole. This is done through various ways, mainly through infrastructure development.
Here, the public has seen Jokowi’s achievement in accelerating infrastructure projects. The infrastructure budget in 2018 is Rp 409 trillion (US$30.27 billion), although this creates a heavier burden on state budget management.
In general, even though the economy is not in great condition, it is also not in a precarious one. Growth is maintained at above 5 percent, even if this is below the target of 7 percent.
Fourthly, the administration has made efforts to revolutionize the national character through national curriculum reform that prioritizes civic education. In line with this are efforts to improve citizens’ quality of life by improving education and training quality. Despite the lack of results as yet and national education management still being a mess, efforts to improve things are visible.
In public health, health services are more affordable than before. Compared to the condition under previous administrations, poor people can now “go to hospital” when they are sick.
Fifthly, the Jokowi administration has made efforts to reinforce and restore the nation’s social diversity through diversity policies in the curriculum and creating spaces for public dialog. The establishment of the Presidential Working Unit on the Implementation of Pancasila (UKP-PIP) is one such effort. Its impact may not yet be felt, as it is still new. However, as an idea to improve diversity and the awareness of nationalism, the UKP-PIP must be supported.
In the aspects mentioned above, the Jokowi-Kalla administration has done well in using their power for good.
State’s presence
Nevertheless, many promised programs are still yet to be implemented. First, there is yet to be a serious effort to reject the concept of a weak state by executing legal reforms to establish corruption-free, dignified and trustworthy law enforcement agencies. The administration’s middling support for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is a prime example. In responding to the ongoing efforts to destroy the KPK, Jokowi merely uttered verbal support without actually doing anything.
Secondly, the administration has shown no efforts to reinforce the state’s presence. The neglect of multiple cases of human rights violations is an irrefutable example of the government’s lack of seriousness in resolving these legal and human rights cases. These cases of unresolved gross human rights violations instead reinforce the impression that the administration is weak in its resolve to achieve any resolution.
Thirdly, there is yet to be any strong effort to improve the people’s productivity and competitiveness in the international market. Instead of improving the people’s productivity and competitiveness, there is an impression that the government is discouraging the development of productivity and competitiveness. In the agriculture sector, for instance, various agricultural product imports have harmed local farmers and undermined local agriculture production centers.
Fourthly, in welfare improvement, the government has not been successful in creating jobs and reducing unemployment and poverty. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said there were 28 million poor people as of March 2016. Nearing the end of 2016, this figure decreased only slightly to 27.7 million people.
Despite its shortcomings, the Jokowi administration is, in general, more promising compared to his immediate predecessor’s, the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono administration. One could say that Jokowi makes decisions on policies faster than Yudhoyono. Jokowi responds to situations quickly, while Yudhoyono spent more time in considerations. This was why many called Yudhoyono a doubter.
In terms of democracy, Jokowi’s era has been pretty much the same as Yudhoyono’s. We have yet to see improved democratic practices that will lead to a more consolidated democracy in the Jokowi era. Issues surrounding the general elections are prime examples.
The process of creating a new election law has yet to produce an improved regulation. The recently completed election law offers no significant changes to the general elections, and they may not produce better executive and legislative leadership. The new election law cannot serve as an integrity screen and, consequently, neither can the electoral process. The power circles will still be dominated by corruption.
In terms of the people’s quality of life, especially in the labor market, Indonesians’ standing has not changed much since the Yudhoyono era. Many Indonesians still work in the lower working classes.
Future improvements
In the remaining two years of his term, President Jokowi needs to focus on priority programs, especially those that have yet to be executed or optimally implemented. Apart from infrastructure development, human development must also be prioritized. The cases of gross human rights violations must be resolved. The people must feel safe and protected by the state.
The challenge lies in finding ways to appreciate, internalize and apply Nawacita values. The Nawacita concept is seen to be as yet ungrounded. The great concept, inspired by Bung Karno’s Trisakti principles, is yet to materialize in the life of the state today. The remaining two years of the current administration must comprise serious work in all priority programs. The seriousness of this work and consequent success of implementing Nawacita will determine whether or not the people will entrust President Jokowi with continuing to lead the nation in 2019-2024.
TOTO SUGIARTO
Riset Indonesia executive director; Paramadina University lecturer
