On short notice, I had to go on a business trip from Jakarta to Tanjung Pinang, a city in the Riau Islands province. All domestic flights, including those to the nearest cities, were sold out. The only option was to go via Singapore because Tanjung Pinang is located near Indonesia’s maritime boundary with Singapore. Considering the urgency of the business, I could not cancel the trip, so I took a direct flight from Jakarta to Singapore, and then a ferry ride from Singapore to Tanjung Pinang. It was not a bad experience after all—it was eye-opening.
Apparently, I was not the only Indonesian at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore en route to other places in Indonesia. There were a couple others headed for the same destination—that is, Sri Bintan Pura Ferry Terminal in Tanjung Pinang. While I was making my way, I noticed how each of us committed to something that seems uncommon in our home country of Indonesia: lining up patiently, not smoking, and not littering. Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal was modern and clean, but it was the behavior of the people that made it such a civilized place. I boarded the ferry together with other passengers, orderly, after which we spent over one and a half hour enjoying a beautiful oceanic panorama between the two countries.
However, upon arrival at Sri Bintan Pura Ferry Terminal, I observed something different. As the ferry was mooring, passengers were rushing out to the platform. Trash littered the ferry’s deck and seats. A few steps in front of me stood a man lighting a cigarette, spitting. My emotions were split between joy of “returning home” and disappointment for seeing what just happened. Crossing the border back to Indonesia, I witnessed the paradox of "revolusi mental (mental revolution)"—an abstract idea championed by Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. Through “mental revolution”, Jokowi argues that changes in mindset, behavior, and lifestyle of the populace are essential for the country’s progress.
This is not to compare Indonesia to Singapore, but rather, to highlight how people might behave differently given a different set of enforced regulations. In fact, this story is not out of ordinary. My family in Indonesia once hosted an exchange student from Japan; it took him just a few weeks until he gave up waiting for the bus at designated stops, and started getting on and off the bus anywhere along the bus route at his convenience—just like locals. Similarly, some Indonesian friends admitted that they dutifully obeyed stop signs and yielded to pedestrians after a couple of days of driving in the U.S. As the old saying goes: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
Jokowi’s campaign on “mental revolution” is a great call but needs to be converted into real, workable actions. Despite its success in attracting voters during Indonesia’s 2014 presidential election, the catchphrase does not seem to have affected the mentality of the masses since he took office. Besides, it is naïve to expect the populace to change their behavior, let alone mentality, when regulations are not functioning. When the dos and don’ts within society are unclear, disorderly behavior is likely to ensue. It is imperative that the Indonesian government evaluates the way regulations are conducted in its jurisdiction.
In the end, one’s decision to do something (or not) depends on his or her calculation on whether the benefits of doing so exceed the costs. Consider littering, for example. Despite the negative externalities for society, some people do it anyway; they find it personally beneficial and enjoyable. However, littering might no longer be as appealing if doing so costs them a hefty fine. In Indonesia, unfortunately, regulations are often outdated or rarely enforced; the cost of disobedience is low. It is no wonder that well-mannered passengers in Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal reverted to their bad behavior once they stepped onto Sri Bintan Pura Ferry Terminal. I don’t think this is completely their fault, though—they are just rational people living in a broken system.
The Indonesian government is mandated to bring about order in society, and often times that means prudently setting the yardstick. First, Jokowi and other local leaders in Indonesia should take the liberty of issuing or modifying regulations as needed, basically to ensure that the benefits of doing harm in public spaces can never be greater than the costs. One possible way is putting in place sanctions against disobedience, such as fines, incarceration, social work, or other kinds of disincentive that, in principle, have a deterrent effect.
Second, regulations should always be promulgated and enforced by the authorities. When the probability of getting caught is high, the costs of committing bad behaviors are even higher. Fewer people would want to smoke again in Sri Bintan Pura Ferry Terminal, I believe, if the consequence was costly and the chances of being caught were high. With this all, we can then expect to see some change, and (hopefully) a true “mental revolution” in Indonesian society.