Kuala Lampur, Dec. 22 -- Indonesia's decision to limit or delay certain forms of foreign disaster assistance to Sumatra in the wake of severe floods and landslides has triggered predictable outrage.

Social media framed the issue as moral betrayal. Some even accused Jakarta of pride at the expense of human lives.

But that reading misunderstands a core tenet of Indonesian political psychology: mandiri - the ethic of self-reliance and resilience.

It also ignores a simple reality: the Home Affairs Minister, Tito Karnavian, is right to insist that Indonesia first rely on its own capabilities before turning to external aid.

Mandiri is not indifference - it is confidence

The floods across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra were met with ...