When the “Pick Me” Syndrome Hits the Massive Inpex Masela Project

Editor: Yusuf Achmad

By Paulus Laratmase

Translated (Indonesian-English) by Leni Marlina

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Biak, November 5th 2025 suaraanaknegerinews.com| When the Abadi Masela Block project was designated as a National Strategic Project (PSN), the public saw a new beacon of hope for Eastern Indonesia. The name of Japan’s Inpex Corporation became a symbol of promise for the communities in the Tanimbar Islands and Southwest Maluku, regions historically marked by extreme poverty. Yet over time, the project, once touted as a milestone for development, revealed a different face: a protracted drama between the state, the corporation, and the people—a phenomenon modern political discourse might term a manifestation of the “pick me syndrome.”

Power and the Dilemma of Recognition

Citing Jake Merril Ibo’s essay “When Power Becomes the Stage: The ‘Pick Me’ Syndrome Among Papuan Elites”, this syndrome describes individuals or institutions striving for recognition from dominant authorities, often at the expense of principles or collective interest. A similar dynamic has emerged in the Inpex Masela Project. Local governments and elites in Tanimbar face a dilemma: remain loyal to the state while addressing the increasingly impatient demands of citizens for prosperity.

Instead of cultivating strong bargaining power vis-à-vis the state and corporations, some parties play symbolic roles—praising the project as a blessing without critically addressing bureaucratic delays and overlapping regulations. Within the pick me logic, recognition from central authorities and corporations outweighs advocacy for indigenous communities whose land forms the foundation of the project.

A Slow State, a Confounded Corporation, and Anxious Citizens

The reality on the ground is riddled with contradictions. Inpex has undertaken tangible steps: recruiting local labor, preparing land, and adopting a “belt-tightening” principle to keep the project moving while awaiting regulatory completion. Yet the permitting process—particularly with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for AMDAL (environmental impact assessment) approval—has been slow. Meanwhile, the Tanimbar community views Inpex as delaying implementation.

In this scenario, the foreign corporation becomes a “ping-pong ball,” bounced between evolving state regulations and social pressures from impatient indigenous populations. Here, the pick me syndrome operates at a structural level: both the state and local communities seek recognition as the most proactive actors, unaware that both exhibit existential anxiety in the face of global power and capital.

“Pick Me” Syndrome and Political Validation in Energy Economics

As Ibo describes, pick me is an expression of political validation—a quest for legitimacy from external authorities. In the Masela context, the state seeks to demonstrate loyalty to the foreign corporation to maintain the image of investment stability, while local governments assert loyalty to the central government to be deemed trustworthy. Consequently, development policy loses substantive direction; it no longer follows welfare logic but recognition logic.

The paradox is stark: a project meant to serve national energy sovereignty has become a stage for loyalty demonstrations. Every political actor wants to be seen on the “right side,” whether favored by Jakarta or Japanese investors. When power becomes a stage for validation, ordinary citizens are left confused about who truly represents their interests.

Social Expectations and Historical Trauma

The syndrome is rooted in collective trauma among long-neglected regional communities. The Tanimbar population, living under extreme poverty, pins all hopes on Inpex. Yet when bureaucratic reality falls short of political promises, disappointment turns to anger. Indigenous protests on November 3, 2025, expressed economic dissatisfaction and frustration over the uneven power dynamics between “center and periphery” and “people and corporation.”

From a social psychology perspective, the pick me phenomenon reflects internalized subjugation—a desire for acknowledgment from a stronger party. Both local elites and indigenous communities seek validation: one from the state and corporations, the other from recognition as rightful landowners and labor contributors. Meanwhile, the state retains dominance, orchestrating the pace of the process.

Dropping the Veil of Pretense

The Inpex Masela project requires renewed political honesty. The state must no longer treat investment as a platform for image-building but as an instrument for social transformation. Local governments need to step out of the “audience awaiting applause” mentality and act as rational bridges between the people and corporations.

The pick me syndrome must end with a governance ethic centered on citizens rather than image. The state should expedite AMDAL approvals and permits, while indigenous communities require clarity on compensation and legal protection for customary lands. Inpex, for its part, must reaffirm commitment not only in investment but also in social participation and respect for local culture.

True power lies not in being liked but in serving sincerely. In the Masela Block case, we must ask: are the state, corporations, and local elites advancing welfare, or merely competing for recognition?

Conclusion

The Inpex Masela story is not merely about liquefied natural gas but reflects the republic’s power relations. When every actor seeks recognition—Jakarta from investors, regions from the center, and citizens from corporations—development loses its soul. The pick me syndrome has turned the project into a drawn-out drama: full of symbols, scant in substance.

It is time to drop the curtain. Development must return to its essence: serving people and the environment. If the state, corporations, and communities can break free from the “pick me” mindset, the Masela Block may no longer be a “held-back mega-project,” but a symbol of equality and a new dawn for Eastern Indonesia.