Belt tightening: Rhetoric?<\/p>\n
Only a few days after the proclamation of new instructions
\nrequiring government officials to work more efficiently and adopt
\na simpler lifestyle, President Megawati Soekarnoputri last week
\nboarded a special plane bound for Bali, where she celebrated both
\nthe New Year holidays and husband Taufik Kiemas' birthday on Dec.
\n31. Cynics immediately criticized the trip for running counter to
\nthe instructions, saying that it demonstrated no sense of crisis
\nand suggested a lack of decency on Megawati's part. The fact that
\nMegawati brought a 44 member entourage with her only helped to
\nfan public resentment toward the trip.<\/p>\n
Of course, everyone has the right to celebrate Idul Fitri,
\nChristmas, New Year, or the birthday of a family member, and this
\nincludes President Megawati. After all, in spite of the crisis,
\nevery year thousands of rich Indonesians go abroad, or to Bali
\nand other holiday resorts to celebrate something or other or, in
\nsome cases, to find an excuse for celebration.<\/p>\n
Yet the high level of criticism Megawati's New Year party
\nattracted should serve as a warning that public sentiment is
\nhardening into cynicism and frustration -- in other words,
\npopular support for Megawati is waning.<\/p>\n
Rather than the praise and support that they clearly deserved,
\nthe instructions were instead greeted by pessimism and
\nskepticism. Many people remember that Megawati's predecessors had
\nalso issued similar instructions but none seemed to be effective,
\ndespite threats along the lines of \"stern measures and
\npunishments will be imposed on those who disregard the
\ninstructions\".<\/p>\n
Many still remember that in early 1974, following the serious
\nanti-government riots that became known as the \"Malari Incident\"
\n(on Jan. 15), the Soeharto administration issued instructions
\nthat supposedly prohibited lavish lifestyles among government
\nofficials. As expected, the instructions were forgotten after
\nonly a few months, to the relief of many officials.<\/p>\n
The main weakness of such measures lies in the fact that they
\nare always politically motivated, rather than representing a
\nsincere drive for reform, and therefore suffer from a lack of
\npolitical will. Hence, their implementation is half-hearted, with
\nthe result that no official has ever been reprimanded, let alone
\ndismissed, when violations have occurred.<\/p>\n
In addition, our culture and value system are not (at least
\nnot yet) conducive to such reform drives. Indonesia is a
\npaternalistic society where leaders act as role models and the
\npublic (supposedly) follows their example. And thus far, no
\nleader has given any indication that they are prepared to act as
\na role model.<\/p>\n
True, we have recently seen a number of cabinet ministers
\nstart to don the long sleeve safari-style uniform, but what else?
\nWe have yet to see cabinet ministers dress in ordinary short-
\nsleeved shirts (like many Singaporean ministers do) or leave
\ntheir Volvos at home and drive a Kijang minivan instead.<\/p>\n
For here, the old saying that you are how you dress, or you
\nare what car you drive (or how big your house is or how lavish
\nyour lifestyle, etc. etc.) still prevails. As long as such a
\nmentality remains in place, we don't believe that austerity
\nmeasures will ever succeed.<\/p>\n
Moreover, with most popular films and television dramas still
\nconveying an unrealistic, luxurious lifestyle, it's no wonder
\nthat the majority of people here are still pursuing a hedonistic
\nway of life. And it is a pity that for many, the so-called
\nIndonesian Dream at present is to own a luxurious house, a garage
\nbig enough for two cars and a bulging bank account, while
\nforgetting about their thirty to forty million fellow Indonesians
\nwho are jobless and living below the poverty line.<\/p>\n
Regrettably, we have no \"culture of shame.\" No one feels
\nashamed about owning property and pursuing a lifestyle that is
\nwell beyond their legal income, and the public never questions
\nthe source of rich officials' wealth.<\/p>\n
Compared to other countries where the drive to eradicate
\ncorruption is more serious, our culture does not support stern
\nmeasures (many of us even take pride in it because we are known
\nas a \"forgiving nation\"). In South Korea, when the anti-
\ncorruption drive was at its peak the public pressure was
\nreportedly so great that no ordinary person would dare smoke
\nimported cigarettes. In Singapore, anyone declared bankrupt by a
\ncourt is prohibited from owning a credit card or private car and
\nhas to therefore travel by public transport. Would we dare to do
\nsuch things?<\/p>\n
If these weaknesses are not immediately addressed, we are
\nafraid that any austerity drive will remain nothing but rhetoric.
\nIt will be like the 'golden oldie' songs, nice to listen to, but
\nwhere is the action?<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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