text: The imposition of neoliberal agendas on a variety of development policies is another factor contributing to the downgrading process of the state's capacities. This has taken place ever since Indonesia was compelled to embrace a neoliberal paradigm brought in by international financial institutions, i.e. IMF and the World Bank.
  The intervention of these institutions in a number of strategic public sectors such as mining, telecommunication, infrastructure, and education were meant to increase the efficiency of the government operation through the application of market mechanism in public management.
  The outcome of this simplified approach is sadly the opposite as it reduces the opportunity for the state to enhance its capacities by giving away their jobs to the global market system dominated by multinational corporations. Thus instead of creating efficient management of public goods, neoliberal policies are inclined to create unintended crises in public sectors, widening the gap between the state and the people it is supposed to serve.
  Yet, our observation is incomplete if we overlook the impact of corruption to the state, an enormous cost that cannot be underestimated. Underlining three aforementioned factors that instantly cause the state to weaken does not necessarily mean that corruption is less damaging. We certainly need to keep in mind that widespread corruption, particularly in all level of bureaucracy, no doubt has the most harmful effects on the state capacity.
  The commitment of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to combat corruption must be appreciated and criticized as well. Most of the efforts to eradicate corruption cases are placed on high profiled cases involving officials in the executive and legislative bodies. It seems that these anti-corruption measures are undertaken with a view that neglects the "institutionalized systemic" corruption in bureaucratic organizations due to outdated culture of bureaucracy inherited from the New Order.
  This renders the state inefficient, burdensome, and lack of innovation and creativity. From this point of view, corruption is actually the effect rather than the cause, and to overcome the problem requires a whole systemic reform of bureaucratic organization incorporating meritocracy, transparency, and professional norms.
  On the last note is democracy. Except neoliberal agendas, all phenomena described above, i.e. fragmented politics and decentralized authority are a corollary of democratization process. They were in fact part of the reform agenda demanded by pro-reform activists from the outset. But we need not to blame democracy for what these structural changes have caused to the state.
  Democracy is both process and product, and fragmentation and decentralization underway are the path to build a better democratic system that cannot be achieved overnight. Just because democratic transition has no beneficial effects yet to the betterment of people's lives does not mean that democracy has failed and that we need to go back to an authoritarian system.
  The writer is an assistant professor in Division of Sociology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
  shows the true colours of people. the opposition would shout about anything to get votes. now that they are in parliament they have decided to just sit and watch.
  Winning a seat seems the easy part. Now let's see the MPs legislate. What about KJ,Wan Azizah & daughter, and Khalid Ibrahim, have they submitted theirs? What about the State Assemblies ? I hope the Speakers are all ready to handle their various assemblies, because on paper things could get exciting. All the more reason why everything should be televised. Maybe we can see some of the Taiwanese show.
  Need not asking for the sake of asking...The important thing is the quality and to participate in the ensuing debate.
  We dont elect MPs who give excuses for their inadequacies. DAP and Keadilan MPs are setting a bad example. This is unacceptable. As punishment, they should forfeit their month's wages and donate them to charity. One more misstep, the rakyat, led by Rocky, will vote them out, like what we did to the Barisan monkeys.
  I too noticed that today's Star failed to specifically mention the blog from where the got the story. Maybe Woon should complain.