THE government should re-examine its plan to pay back its US$7.8 billion loan to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The intention to repay the loan in two installments, as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wants to do, is an interesting plan. But everything must be carefully considered before a decision is reached. We must be certain that the repayment will benefit Indonesia, and not lead to new and more serious problems.

The chance to repay