Haze and Indolence

There is no doubt at all that the methods and style of how the Joko Widodo government is handling the haze disaster gives us the impression of indolence and languidness. While people throughout Sumatra and Kalimantan have been hit by a disaster thataccording to US space agency NASAis the worst in the history of Indonesia, President Joko Widodo seems to have remained calm and distant.

The cabinet secretary has tried to 'cover up' the mess by insisting that the government is serious in its handling of the disaster. As proof of this, the President is to make another visit to Sumatra to coordinate relief efforts. The cabinet secretary also said that the President had visited three provinces hit by the smoke within the last month. This statement, although amusing in its own way, was not what the disaster victims wanted to hear.

October 13, 2015