Annual Assembly session leaves students, teachers feeling cold<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) is the highest state
\nbody, so the text books say. Students all over the country should
\nknow that. But do they have any idea about the Annual Session?
\nAnd what do the teachers say?<\/p>\n
Afaf Munawwarah, 17, a student at SMUN 81 public high school:
\nI don't really follow the MPR Annual Session because from what I
\nknow, it's just a performance review of the government and I
\nhaven't seen any significant progress so far.<\/p>\n
The state allocated a large budget for this session, but the
\nlegislators don't appear to be too concerned about the nation's
\ncondition... for example, the scuffle at the MPR the other day.<\/p>\n
Omar Khaled, 17, a student at Pembangunan Jaya high school:
\nThe Annual Session seems to be useless because it doesn't appear
\nto reduce the people's burden.<\/p>\n
MPs and the government must put the interests of the people
\nfirst and try to find a way to solve the various problems facing
\nour nation, such as unemployment, and the ever increasing fuel
\nprice, which will later affect other areas as well.<\/p>\n
After the session, I hope the current government will run
\nsmoothly and be able to tackle the nation's problems effectively.<\/p>\n
Cita Yuditya, 16, a student at SMUN 6 public high school:
\nAlthough we have to make clippings of the MPR session at school,
\nI don't really follow the session or have a profound knowledge of
\nit.<\/p>\n
I don't find the session interesting.. politics confuses me.<\/p>\n
Marlyn, a student at Atmajaya University, Makassar: The Annual
\nSession? It's an overall bore, except for the jostling. Having
\ndifferences of opinion is normal. My common sense cannot accept
\nthe uproar among the assembly members due to differences in
\nopinion.<\/p>\n
We are entering the learning process of democracy. Those
\ninvolved in the \"brawl\" must take the responsibility. Apologies
\nare not enough. They must resign to show their moral
\naccountability.<\/p>\n
Irwandi, a student at North Sumatra University's School of
\nAgriculture: I am not in favor of this year's MPR Annual Session.
\nThe event is very costly and yet the nation is still gripped by
\nthe prolonged financial crisis.<\/p>\n
This expensive session will not provide significant input for
\nthe nation. We have had many sessions already and still the
\nnation is in limbo. The money should have been distributed to
\nneedy people.<\/p>\n
Firmansyah, 19, a student at a technical high school in
\nJayapura: \"What she said in her address was not the same as what
\nhappens everyday in society.<\/p>\n
The money the government has spent has never reached my
\nschool. We have a library and we need more books on mathematics.
\nDon't we need more books to improve the quality of our human
\nresources? I want Bu Megawati to give more attention to school
\nstudents who want to improve their knowledge.\"<\/p>\n
Rismania Veradiza, 17, a student at SMUN 8 public high school:
\nThe legislators are like people on the street who like to engage
\nin brawls. They are just wasting the people's money because they
\nare unable to come up with any kind of solution while the
\nsuffering of the Indonesian people grows larger.<\/p>\n
They should be able to bring about a better future for
\nIndonesia instead of just talking without any substance.<\/p>\n
I try to follow the session on television whenever I can
\nbecause I'm interested to see exactly what they are doing. But
\nafter a while I get bored watching them reading the newspaper,
\ndozing off, and seeing the empty chairs of absent legislators.<\/p>\n
While the people await the results of the session, some MPs
\nare busy touring and shopping.<\/p>\n
Suparmi, a state elementary school teacher in Pasar Minggu,
\nSouth Jakarta: I don't intentionally follow news about the Annual
\nSession. Basically, I don't care about the session. What for?
\nIt's boring and useless.<\/p>\n
But I watched the report aired by a private TV station about
\nthe incident on Thursday between legislators. What a shame. The
\npeople's representatives should not have done such a thing.<\/p>\n
Rukmini, a teacher at SMP 182 public junior high school: The
\nbrawl has ruined the legislators' reputation, which was already
\ntarnished.<\/p>\n
They were not professional and not serious in doing their
\njob.<\/p>\n
Legislators have to take their job seriously as they should be
\nresponsible for what they do to the people who chose them during
\nthe general election.<\/p>\n
L. Pardede, a civics teacher at a private senior high school
\nin Central Jakarta: I urged my students to get information about
\nthe session as it relates to civics, the subject I teach.<\/p>\n
The session is a real example of democracy. Conflicts, like
\nwhat happened on Thursday, are part of democracy.<\/p>\n
But I don't think the legislators are serious in doing their
\njobs, which could be seen on TV: they were chatting, reading
\nnewspapers or even sleeping during the session.<\/p>\n
This country is in danger. They could actually play a role in
\nimproving the situation as they are law makers. They should
\nremember that their salaries and all the facilities they get come
\nfrom taxpayers' money.<\/p>\n
F. Sumarwan, employee of a private company, Jakarta: Nothing
\nbut the jostling have interested me.<\/p>\n
I think they (legislators) have spent a lot of money on
\nsomething that has nothing to do with the daily life of common
\npeople. I don't really understand what they are talking about.<\/p>\n
Every time the TV station airs the session, I will quickly
\nswitch to another channel for a better program.<\/p>",
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