Yes, I only drove manual cars back then! I only started driving auto since 2011.
Indonesia especially big cities like Jkt have big car culture, a lot of people do mods and involved in clubs gathering. Car prices are also exorbitant like here, slightly cheaper for normal cars but a lot more expensive for high end cars. Traffic jams caused by both, over population (>12mill in Jkt alone) and very poor public transport (no LRT/MRT yet and bad buses) except taxi.
So, you had a long long history with manual cars. Must have took you some time to adjust to the 2 pedal driving and slower response of auto box. I've only driven auto once and I really can't get used to it.
Seems like there is a lot for the Indonesian government to work on to improve many things in the country. I've also heard that the gap between rich and poor is also very large. Your country had the advantage of human resource and manpower but perhaps they are not well utilized enough to bring more improvements to the country. If everything goes well, I'm sure Indonesia can have the growth potential to be like China. Education seems okay as I have seen Indonesians writing in proper formal English on the internet as opposed to many Malaysians writing completely broken English everywhere.

Left foot braking is normally used by race car drivers isn't it? For cars without traditional manual transmission. 

