'I don't place much hope in our legislators'<\/p>\n
The government decision to raise fuel prices by an average of
\n29 percent early this month has divided members of the House
\nof Representatives. The dispute turned ugly last week
\nwhen House members supporting the policy got involved in a fight
\nwith those opposing it. The Jakarta Post interviewed
\nresidents here to get their comments on the incident.<\/p>\n
Salam, 39, a freelance worker living in Kampung Sawah, Cipinang
\nMuara, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Legislators fighting? It's nonsense to say that they were
\ndefending the aspirations of the public. If they wanted our
\ndemands to be heard, why would they fight? They could find better
\nways to debate the issue without hurting each other.<\/p>\n
They were just like kids fighting over an ice cream. From what
\nI see, they can never learn to behave maturely.<\/p>\n
When we elected them last year, I thought they were smart
\npeople who really understood the circumstances of the poor.
\nObviously, I was wrong. No, I don't really know if I can count on
\nthem or not.<\/p>\n
I'm just an ordinary person. I work really hard to feed my
\nfamily. I don't place much hope in our legislators. There's
\nnothing I can do except accept the fuel price increases or
\nwhatever other increases that are coming. It just means that I
\nhave to work extra hard.<\/p>\n
Soebagyo, 24, an accounting student attending the YAI University
\nin Salemba, Central Jakarta. He hails from Pekalongan, Central
\nJava and now lives with his foster parents in Kelapa Dua, West
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Hmmm ... let's see. The legislators were fighting for
\nsomething that is not going to happen (the rolling back of the
\nfuel price rises). They were just pretending to be outraged and
\nthat's not the way to struggle for the people's interests.<\/p>\n
Of course, we want the fuel price hike to be canceled, but I
\nthink the legislators need to use a strategic and more refined
\napproach rather than violence.<\/p>\n
They now have a great opportunity to really show their
\ncapabilities. Don't let the bad habits of our previous
\nlegislators affect the current legislators.<\/p>\n
They will persistently have a bad image if they continue to
\nfight over the interests of the different factions. People
\nalready have a stereotype that legislators only talk a lot and
\ndon't actually do much. Well, I know that they are paid to work.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/i-dont-place-much-hope-in-our-legislators-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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