Marlon continued, occasionally lifting a basket of vegetables he had already sold, "Pak Harto did manage to make many people feel comfortable, with cheap prices and many able to eat enough. But to achieve that, he sacrificed industrial development in this country. During his era, many prioritized political stability and security, and we became too dependent on natural resources. So, when those resources began to deplete, we didn't have a strong enough industry to support the country's economy."
Riri, who was serving customers, listened and chimed in, "Yes, Marlon's right, Ma'am. Back then, Indonesia was more reliant on exporting raw materials and natural resources, but there wasn't significant industrial development. Now, we're heavily dependent on imports, and that's really affecting our economy. The prices of goods just keep rising, and we're struggling to compete."
Bu Siti frowned, "But back then, people lived comfortably and could eat. Why is it harder now, even though there have been many changes?"
Romo, who was helping arrange the goods while listening, added softly, "Yes, Ma'am, change is complicated. Pak Harto's era did bring stability, but stability often comes at a high price. When a country relies too much on one sector without developing others, like industry, that can be a problem in the future. And now, we're feeling the consequences."
Suddenly, a customer arrived with a basket to buy some vegetables. Bu Siti greeted them warmly, offering the best prices. "What would you like to buy, Ma'am? All this fresh produce is perfect for making vegetable soup."
The customer smiled and began selecting, while from the other side, the sounds of bargaining echoed in the corner of the market. "Sir, this fresh fish just arrived from the sea. It's great for pepes."
Marlon and Riri continued to sell, observing the market scene. People came and went, and their conversation didn't disrupt the bustling atmosphere. Although crowded, the market had a comfortable vibe—some were busy counting change, others haggling over prices, and some simply walked by with shopping bags.
Bu Siti finished her transaction and resumed her conversation with Marlon. "Maybe there was something lacking in the old days, huh? Maybe we were too dependent on what was available without thinking about the future."
Marlon nodded, "Yes, Ma'am. We can see it now, we're struggling to adapt to the changing times. Things were easy before, but now we have to be smarter. But it's not easy. Everything takes time."
Riri added, "That's why we have to learn to adapt. The world keeps changing, and we need to keep up. If not, we'll be left behind."
The day started to grow dark, and the market, which had been bustling, was now quieter. The vendors began packing up, tidying up the remaining goods, while the sound of bargaining slowly faded. The only sounds now were the footsteps of the vendors packing their things. Bu Siti, along with Marlon, Riri, and Romo, began to pack up the goods.
"Alhamdulillah, there are still some who buy," said Bu Siti, wiping her sweat. "Now it's time to clean up. Come, follow me to my house, there's a lot I want to tell you."
Riri nodded while helping carry a few empty baskets. "Sure, Ma'am. I'm curious to hear more."
Marlon, who was also helping, added, "Sounds fun, we can talk more about the old days."
After a few minutes, they headed to Bu Siti's house, which was just a few blocks away from the market. Her home was simple, with a cozy living room where they sat while enjoying the warm tea Bu Siti served. The calm atmosphere of the house created space for their continued conversation.
After sipping their tea, Bu Siti began the conversation. "You guys were talking about Pak Harto earlier. Back then, I didn't understand much about it. All I knew was that life was comfortable during that time. Goods were cheap, everything was predictable. But now, I realize, there's another side to all of that."
Marlon nodded, "Yes, Ma'am, back then, stability was important, but relying too much on one sector, like raw material exports, became a problem. Without strong industrial development, we weren't ready to face global economic changes."
Riri added, "And that has a huge impact now, Ma'am. We're struggling in the industrial sector, and prices keep rising, inflation is unavoidable."
Romo gently added, "But, Ma'am, sometimes people don't think too far ahead, especially when life was stable back then. For many, what mattered was having food today, and sending the kids to school, right?"
Bu Siti paused, then nodded slowly. "Maybe that's true. I didn't know much about economics back then, but sometimes it feels like, even though life was easy, more people are struggling now. Prices just keep rising, but wages aren't balanced."
Marlon explained further, "Because we became too dependent on imports. Before, we focused more on raw materials, so there weren't many industries built to counter that. Now, we're becoming more vulnerable."
Riri continued, "That's why, when international goods prices rise, we feel the impact immediately. Without a strong domestic industry, our economy is fragile."
The atmosphere in Bu Siti's house felt warm, and even though the conversation was heavy, they were still able to talk lightly, enjoying the tea and the cozy environment.
Marlon looked at his cup of tea for a moment, thinking hard before continuing, "Actually, Ma'am, every country that wants to advance needs to go through a clear economic revolution. It starts with manufacturing, mass production of goods. Developed countries usually begin with that. Once they have a solid manufacturing foundation, they can start strengthening the financial and service sectors."
Marlon continued while looking out the window, as if searching for the right words. "After that, they begin upgrading technology. Technological advancements usually happen in the service and industrial sectors, and that's what can drive long-term economic growth."
Riri, who was listening carefully, nodded. "So, the process starts with goods production, then moves to the financial and service sectors, and finally to more advanced technology?"
"Yes," answered Marlon, "and once manufacturing develops, countries that are already advanced usually start reducing their manufacturing sectors. They move production to developing countries, where labor costs are lower. That's a common pattern in many developed countries."
Romo, who had been listening intently, added, "Just like what happened with big countries in Europe or America, right? They developed their manufacturing sector first, then strengthened other sectors after that."
Marlon nodded, "Exactly, Romo. They went through that phase, and that's what helped them stay ahead. But the irony, Ma'am, is that since independence, Indonesia has never really done this. From the start, we relied too much on natural resources. We never seriously built up our manufacturing sector, and that's been a huge obstacle."
The atmosphere in Bu Siti's living room became more serious, though still comfortable. Riri added, "And even though we've entered the reform era, we haven't felt significant change. The manufacturing sector is still weak, and it seems like there's no big step to change the direction of our economy."
Marlon took a deep breath, "Yes, that's what I'm worried about. If we don't change, we'll keep getting stuck in the same pattern. Developing countries trying to catch up, while developed countries are already far ahead."
Bu Siti frowned, trying to digest what Marlon had said. "But if that's the case, how can we move forward? If we keep going like this, when will we change?"
Marlon smiled, trying to offer hope, though the situation wasn't easy. "Change isn't easy, Ma'am. But we have to start by thinking big, looking ahead. Making changes in the manufacturing sector, strengthening the local economy, and investing in technology. Without that, we'll just keep spinning our wheels."
Marlon looked at Bu Siti for a moment, thinking hard before continuing his explanation. "Take a look at Lee Kuan Yew, the leader of Singapore who succeeded in advancing that small country. Singapore is such a tiny country, doesn't have natural resources, even their land is limited. But look at them now, they've developed rapidly. How could that happen?" Marlon paused for a moment, giving Bu Siti a chance to process.
"Lee Kuan Yew, Bu, he had a big vision for his country. He started by building a strong manufacturing sector, even though they didn't have abundant raw materials or natural resources. They began with small factories, but he knew that in order to become a developed country, they needed to master industries, develop skills, and improve the education system. That was the key."
Riri, who had been listening, nodded in agreement. "Singapore is indeed famous for its advanced education system and infrastructure. They managed to prepare a generation ready to compete on a global scale."
Marlon continued, "That's right, Riri. But what's interesting is not just Singapore. If we compare it with China, which used to be called the 'Middle Kingdom' because of its isolation, their situation was much closer to Indonesia's. China was also a large country that lacked natural resources, and they were far behind in technology."
Bu Siti looked at Marlon attentively. "So, why was China able to develop so quickly?"
Marlon sighed. "China started with simple manufacturing, Bu. They became 'the world's factory' by producing cheap goods. Even though the quality wasn't high, their production volume was huge. It's similar to our situation, where we have plenty of natural resources, but we're still heavily dependent on exporting raw materials."
Bu Siti nodded slowly. "So, they started with manufacturing first?"
Marlon nodded. "Yes, Bu. That was the first step. But the most important thing was stable leadership and supportive politics. After economic reforms started in China in 1978 under Deng Xiaoping, they opened up to free markets. Although there was still state control, they allowed the manufacturing sector to grow, attracted foreign investments, and developed technology."
Riri added, "And they also focused on education and skill enhancement. That's what allowed them to compete in the global market."
Marlon continued, "Exactly. China then started upgrading their technology, even surpassing developed countries in some sectors. All of this happened because they had clear leadership that knew where to take the country, even though their political system wasn't perfect."
Bu Siti listened carefully. "So, if that's the case, the problem in Indonesia is unstable politics?"
Marlon nodded. "Yes, Bu. Unstable politics and a constantly changing system hinder progress. There's no certainty in the development direction, while other countries have already been able to focus and innovate."
Riri leaned back in her chair and looked at Bu Siti seriously. "Actually, Bu, for us to develop, we not only need a strong manufacturing sector, but also legal certainty and stable political conditions. Without legal certainty, investors or entrepreneurs won't dare to invest in Indonesia. The same goes for people who want to do business or innovate—they need to know there are clear and consistent rules."
Marlon nodded in agreement, then continued, "Legal certainty is extremely important. Because with a clear legal system, people can do business without fear of sudden rule changes. But, Bu, there's one more thing we're forgetting. Indonesia doesn't create products or industries that can compete in the global market. We only rely on exporting raw materials and importing finished goods."
Bu Siti looked confused. "So why is that a big problem?"
Marlon sighed. "Here's the thing, Bu. Without products or industries created in Indonesia, the demand from other countries for our currency—the rupiah—becomes very limited. They don't need rupiah because we don't have products they directly need. That's what causes our currency to keep falling. The more we import goods, the more dollars we need, while our exports aren't enough to cover it."
Riri added, "That's why, Bu, almost all commodities in Indonesia, from oil to food, are priced in U.S. dollars. So every time there's a change in the dollar exchange rate, the prices of goods also go up, including the things we need every day."
Bu Siti nodded slowly, starting to understand. "So, if the rupiah keeps falling, prices will keep rising, right?"
"Exactly, Bu," Marlon replied. "Because most of the goods we consume are imported with dollars. And when the rupiah weakens, the prices of those imported goods go up immediately. We're stuck in a vicious cycle where people's purchasing power decreases, while basic needs continue to rise."
Riri continued calmly, "This is why it's so important for us to start developing industries that we can produce locally. If we keep relying on imported goods, we'll always depend on exchange rates and the global economy, which can fluctuate. Meanwhile, countries that can produce their own goods will be more stable in facing economic changes."
Marlon nodded. "That's why we need a major change. We must have industries that can compete in the global market, not just rely on the natural resources we have."
Bu Siti looked at the three of them with a blank stare. "Wow... so now we're really late to develop, huh? I don't get it, we still don't understand the real situation of this country. The public has been lied to so much by politicians. They talk about this and that, but what do we really know? Even the truth is often twisted. All these lies leave us confused, not knowing where to start."
Riri nodded slowly, feeling the weight of Bu Siti's words. "Yes, Bu. Sometimes we can't tell who truly cares about our situation because everything is hidden or manipulated for certain interests."
Marlon sensed the tension in Bu Siti's words and tried to calm her down. "Maybe we can't change everything overnight, Bu. But realizing that we've been lied to is the first step. If we don't know the reality, we won't be able to fix it."
Romo added gently, "And maybe we don't know everything yet, Bu. But we can start by getting to know the situation around us. Perhaps from there, we can learn more and eventually understand what needs to be changed."
Marlon continued, "Yes, Bu, if we look from the outside, the situation in our country is indeed far from what we want. But we can't keep feeling like we're too late, we still have to try, even if change takes time."
Bu Siti seemed to be lost in thought, as if considering their words. "But if it's like this, what can we do? We should have developed faster, but everything's not going the way it should."
Bu Siti shook her head, her expression filled with disappointment. "I thought after Pak Harto left, this country would get better. Everyone was hoping for that, right? But it turns out it's the same, even worse. Some things are progressing, but there are even more things that are going backward. Why isn't there any real change? It all feels stagnant. Maybe what I know is that all these are just political promises that eventually became empty words."
Riri listened carefully, finding it difficult to express what she was thinking. "Sometimes, change doesn't show up immediately, Bu. It's possible people felt that after the New Order, there would be more freedom, but the reality is that it also brought about difficult consequences. On one hand, freedom is important, but sometimes uncontrolled freedom just adds more problems."
Marlon nodded slowly, trying to offer a broader perspective. "That happens a lot, Bu. People see freedom as progress, but without a clear structure and without proper enforcement of rules, freedom can become a big problem. We do need reform, but it won't work easily if there's no shared agreement about a clear direction."
Romo chimed in, "Maybe what we're facing now is a situation full of uncertainty. Many want change, but change takes time and sacrifice. We can't expect quick results. Sometimes, we need to go through tougher phases before we can reach a better state."
Bu Siti looked at them with an empty stare, as if still searching for answers to the troubling question in her heart. "But... when can we really feel it? The longer it goes, the harder it gets, everything is getting more expensive. I don't understand what to do anymore."
Marlon took a deep breath, trying to put together words that had been lingering in his mind. "Actually, I think one of the biggest mistakes this country made is that we've been too quick to label everything that happened during the New Order as bad. Yes, I understand, from our perspective now that we have so much information about the outside world, the New Order was indeed bad. But there is one thing I think was good, Bu."
Bu Siti and Riri looked at Marlon attentively.
"GBHN (Guidelines for the National Development), that was really important, Bu. Back then, Pak Habibie often said that GBHN was crucial so the country would have a clear direction, so that the goals were clear. So even though many things weren't perfect, at least there was one fixed goal. Now, after the reform, we don't have that anymore. Every time a new president comes, policies change. A new minister, policies change. A new head of department, policies change. Everything is unclear, even the country's goals keep changing. That's what makes this country lack a clear direction. The longer it goes on, the more depressing it gets."
Riri looked at Marlon, paused for a moment, then nodded slowly. "That's true, Marlon. We might not be able to see the positive side of that era because we're more focused on the bad things. But indeed, without a clear goal, without systematic planning, the country can become chaotic. Constantly changing policies make everything inconsistent."
Romo added, "Indeed, Bu, when it comes to policies and the direction of the country, it's important to have a strong and clear foundation. Without that, the country can be tossed around. Maybe in the past, there were weaknesses in terms of freedom, but from a development standpoint, there were things we could learn."
Bu Siti reflected, slowly starting to understand what Marlon meant. "So, what we need now isn't just quick change, but also a clear direction? Without a clear direction, we just end up confused."
Marlon nodded. "Yes, Bu. This country needs a clear goal, not just fast changes that make every policy shift without continuity. That's why we're always late, because there's no clarity."