'MPR Session meaningless for poor'<\/p>\n
The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will hold its Annual
\nSession from Aug. 1 to Aug. 10, but people in the street are not
\nexcited at all. They say that it will not help improve the state
\nof the country as they have never enjoyed any benefit from such a
\nsession.<\/p>\n
Mardi, 35, is a supervisor of street sweepers at the National
\nMonument park in Central Jakarta. He resides in Halim with his
\nwife and son. He has worked for the City Sanitation Agency for
\nsix years.<\/p>\n
\"I don't exactly understand the purpose of the upcoming Annual
\nSession. How the hell does is benefit ordinary people like me?<\/p>\n
Controversial items on the annual agenda always cause mass
\nrallies. That means more work for park sweepers like us due to
\nthe extra garbage left behind.<\/p>\n
Poor people like us never get anything useful to improve our
\nlives. We never feel any improvement in the country as we never
\nenjoy the benefits.<\/p>\n
We don't have high expectations from the Annual Session of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly. The results are always the same,
\ndespite the many different leaders of the nation. Under the rule
\nof four presidents, from former presidents Soeharto and BJ
\nHabibie, to Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati, we have remained as
\nstreet sweepers who always use straw brooms to clean the park. No
\nmatter how rapid technological advancements may be, we still use
\ntraditional straw brooms to do our jobs.\"<\/p>\n
Delfia, 44, is a resident of Karawang, West Java. He has been
\na taxi driver here since 1978 to support his wife and three
\nchildren.<\/p>\n
\"The Annual Session is not important for me. Legislators and
\nnational leaders have always been inconsistent in what they say
\nand do. The session won't help improve the country much, I guess.<\/p>\n
Economically speaking, the session causes many low-income
\npeople to suffer large losses due to disruptive street protests.
\nThese will likely decrease the earnings of vendors and public
\ntransportation drivers.<\/p>\n
I guess national leaders should first \"put their own houses in
\norder\" before appearing at the assembly. Otherwise, the session
\nhere will simply be a waste of public money and will lead to
\nnothing.<\/p>\n
I'm sure most of the issues addressed at the assembly are not
\nthe real concerns of our society. So what's the point of it all?\"<\/p>\n
Beja, 35, is an engineer who has worked for a construction
\ncompany in Central Jakarta for 11 years. He lives in Bogor with
\nhis wife and two children. He originally came from Blora, Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I think we don't need the Annual Session as it has so far
\nfailed to produce any significant result for the people.<\/p>\n
The previous annual sessions only sparked massive riots and
\ncaused disruption. The agenda was often just a waste of public
\nmoney. It also traumatized ordinary people.<\/p>\n
The main focus in the upcoming session will be all about power
\npolitics between groups with vested interests. What will that
\nachieve?<\/p>\n
I feel pessimistic about the agenda. Besides, it would be
\nbetter for me to think about how to earn a living from my job.\"<\/p>\n
Toharis, 50, is a resident of Banjarnegara, Central Java, who
\nhas lived in the city for 26 years. He works as a vendor selling
\nfresh fruit at the National Monument park. He resides in Kramat
\nPulo, Central Jakarta, with his wife and six children.<\/p>\n
\"I just hope the upcoming Annual Session will run smoothly.
\nShould the situation remain stable, I will still be able to get a
\nregular supply of fresh fruit. It all helps me to survive, of
\ncourse.<\/p>\n
I really don't wish to see protesters staging massive street
\nrallies. It will only worsen the situation, and low-income
\npeople, who are dependent on the city's stability, will suffer a
\nreduction in earnings.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mpr-session-meaningless-for-poor-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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