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As a nation, Indonesia has the tragic tendency to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Citizens should be enjoying the fruits of last year’s successful presidential polls and celebrating the return to stellar growth after the global financial crisis. Instead the country’s leaders are embroiled in a scandal so complex and multilayered that even the scriptwriters of the hit TV show “Heroes” couldn’t have come up with anything as convoluted.

With this in mind, I’ve assembled a few pointers for you:

Political capital: Roughly equivalent to “popularity,” leaders accumulate political capital during elections. They then disperse it once they’re in office in order to push through unpopular but necessary policy initiatives, as in the case of US President Barack Obama’s bold health care bill. In this respect, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is more of a “saver.” He prefers to hoard his political capital for the future. Maybe he is planning to change the Constitution and have another run at the presidency — who knows? However, political capital is time-sensitive. It needs to be traded and used. If not, it will wither quickly.

Timing is everything: The president made a dramatic televised speech to the nation just before the all-important Bank Century vote. When he wants to be, Yudhoyono is a superb communicator. He connects with the audience and they trust him implicitly. Had the same speech been made back in November or December it’s highly unlikely that anyone would have dared to challenge him — coming so soon after his thumping electoral victory. But declaring that he was ultimately responsible for the bailout only in March was too little, too late.

Team spirit: A leader must maintain the esprit d’ corps, or semangat, of his team. He must lead from the front and back up his subordinates and aides. Running a cabinet is like managing a rambling conglomerate: Your interests extend everywhere. Still, you must make sure your top performers (such as Sri Mulyani) feel appreciated and are well compensated. Morale can deteriorate very quickly if you don’t (see: Cabinet reshuffle).

Thaksin, Berlusconi et al: Politics is an expensive business and the very rich have certain obvious advantages. Owning a TV station(s) multiplies those advantages because you can both determine the political agenda and shape public sentiment. Once started, the momentum can be unbelievably powerful. In Thailand, the perennial electoral losers, Abhisit Vejjajiva’s Democrats, have had to drive Thaksin into exile. Much of his assets have also been seized. Berlusconi remains Italy’s prime minister despite regular skirmishes in the courts. Fighting multibillionaires is not for the faint-hearted. If the conflict escalates, we little people had best keep out of the way.

Tax collection: A form of political leverage.

Corruption charges: Another form of political leverage.

Show me the money: Most of us don’t understand what the scandal is all about. The Bank Century inquiry committee has only made it all the more confusing — some might say deliberately. We are still obsessing over the rights and wrongs of the bailout when the real issue is where the money went. Citizens need to know who benefited from the bailout and why. If high-profile people are involved, so be it. They must suffer the consequences.

Proportion: Related to the above, let’s not forget about another major bailout. The US government’s $122.8 billion rescue of the ailing insurance giant AIG cost significantly more than the Rp 6.7 trillion ($730 million) spent on Bank Century. While the USdecision was subject to intense scrutiny and debate, there haven’t been calls for prosecution.

Speaking of which, Barack Obama: He’s making his long-awaited visit soon. Guys, it’s time for Indonesia to celebrate. The republic is far better off than it imagines itself to be. The gloom is overdone.

Cabinet reshuffle: A good idea. Leaders need aides who support them. Yudhoyono should clean the decks. The president won’t be impeached and Sri Mulyani et al may well survive. However, his credibility has been dented and his team is chastened. To this end, the president needs to rebuild his team and ensure loyalty. After all, he is the boss, isn’t he?

Coalition politics: Err … what’s that? Doesn’t exist in Indonesia.

Bunga Cinta Lestari: If it all gets to be much go and buy BCL’s latest album. At least we have someone to help us forget about the mess we’re in.

Karim Raslan is a columnist who divides his time between Malaysia and Indonesia..