Anwar Ibrahim Affirms Indonesia's Reform Is A Securities For Malaysia In Today's Memory, May 20, 2018

Students overflowed to the dome of Grahasabha Paripurna when holding a demonstration demanding comprehensive reform, Tuesday (19/5/1998). (ANTARA PHOTO/Saptono/RF02/ss/hp/asf)

JAKARTA Memories of today, six years ago, May 20, 2018, Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that Indonesian reform is a valuable lesson for the neighboring country. The transition from the New Order (Orba) to the reform era is considered capable of producing true and successful democracy.

Previously, the leadership of Suharto and the New Order brought bad winds to the democratic system. Depravity is thought to be a dream in broad daylight. Those who throw criticism will surely be 'hit' by the country.

Suharto and New Order's leadership had brought Indonesia's economy to grow. However, economic growth was not supported by the government's courage to accept criticism. Anyone who throws criticism will be beaten by the New Order.

This condition makes corruption increasingly rampant. State officials are busy with their respective affairs. The people are the audience. The life of the Indonesian people is a difficult thing to improve. Problems arose during the 1997-1998 economic crisis. The people are again victims.

Their lives are increasingly miserable and pressed. Gelora protested and then rolled out everywhere. The people who were squeezed by the economy began to venture to call Suharto to resign. Mass action took place everywhere.

The government was furious. The strategy of reducing the action with violence is being used again. This strategy spawned the Trisakti Tragedy. The bloody tragedy further confirms that the government's power can apply arbitrarily to the Indonesian people.

The problem made people's anger rise. The 1998 riots were present throughout Jakarta, then outside Jakarta. Suharto was even more pressed and stepped down after that. This condition made Indonesia enter a new era. The reform era, his name.

The reform era also tried to offer changes. The president's position began to be limited. Freedom of opinion began to be given space. Corruption enforcement began.

In fact, the former President of Indonesia, Suharto, was brought to court with indications of corruption through many foundations. A series of things made the optimism of all Indonesian people increased to welcome the reform era.

On May 21, 1998, it became a milestone that Indonesia entered a new era: reform. Some of the demands of students known as Six Claims for Reform' are realized, even though they are limp and not all at once. For example, the 1945 Constitution which is the rule of state law is enforced. The position of the president is limited. Judicial power is completely absorbed by the executive. The DPR as a representative of the people's institution also has teeth.

The president and regional heads can now be directly elected by the people. Soldiers and police are holding back from parliament. The public and the press are more free to speak up because freedom of expression is guaranteed by law: Which should also not be ruled out, reform gave birth to two institutions that became their icons: the Constitutional Court and the Corruption Eradication Commission," wrote Tempo magazine entitled 20 Years after the hatchlings of Reform! (2018).

Indonesia's experience towards a reform period has actually inspired many parties. The implementation of Indonesian democracy is predicted to be a valuable provision. The narrative was kept by Malaysia's famous politician, Anwar Ibrahim.

The former Deputy Prime Minister (PM) of Malaysia in the 1993-1998 era emphasized that Indonesia's reform was a valuable lesson for the neighboring country on May 20, 2018. Malaysia was able to learn and research how the reform era advanced Indonesia's democracy and succeeded.

"Indonesia's experience of the transition from old to new systems provides lessons for us. Indonesia's experience regarding the transformation from old to new systems is able to invite all people. The transition from the old system to a more democratic system is true and successful."

"We must study the formation of institutions at the beginning of the reform. However, in Malaysia, institutions are not as severe as what in the New Order and the Old Order. We need to examine that, both successful and bad, so that we do not repeat weaknesses or failures. For example, corruption, inequality and poverty," said Anwar Ibrahim at the residence of the 3rd Former President of Indonesia, BJ Habibie, quoted by the ANTARA page, May 20, 2018.