Wahono warns of hypocrisy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): House Speaker Wahono warned the nation yesterday
\nagainst "a culture of hypocrisy" which he said was affecting much
\nof Indonesian society, including its elite.<\/p>\n
"We have seen lately the signs of the culture of hypocrisy
\nwhich is sweeping across the Indonesian community, including its
\nleaders who say one thing and then do another," he told the House
\nof Representatives' plenary session which marked the end of its
\nfourth sitting for 1995-1996.<\/p>\n
The fourth sitting began on May 6. The House goes into recess
\ntoday to give legislators time to visit their constituents. The
\nrecess will end on Aug. 15. President Soeharto is expected to
\nopen the next sitting with his state of the nation speech on Aug.
\n16.<\/p>\n
The house speaker is famous for his critical speeches whenever
\nhe opens or closes the House's sittings. In his speech yesterday,
\nhe berated the government's policies on social, political and
\neconomic development. In other parts of his speech, he criticized
\nother groups including the House.<\/p>\n
He expressed concern about what he described as narrowing
\nintellectualism, marked by a decline in objectiveness and social
\nawareness; something he called a "primordialism of intellect".<\/p>\n
"This is a saddening development," he said.<\/p>\n
Wahono said he was also saddened by the "moral decadence"
\naffecting all layers of society, including "the state's
\nadministrators". He cited a number of incidents which he said
\nproved the moral decay of society.<\/p>\n
He said that during the last sitting, the House had watched
\nvarious alarming affairs which showed how mentally unprepared the
\nstate apparatus was for dealing with "uncontrollable social and
\npolitical situations".<\/p>\n
Wahono did not only criticize the elite power brokers. He also
\nchided his colleagues, expressing regret that the House was too
\nslow to respond to these saddening developments.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that House members were also leaders who were
\nresponsible for voicing people's aspirations; legislators should
\nnot let people think they have no say.<\/p>\n
"Even if some people believe it's already too late, we still
\nhave to make that strong moral call to awake us all," he said.<\/p>\n
Wahono yesterday reminded the House that Indonesia's national
\nleadership was collective: "This is why during crises we should
\nhold on to the spirit of collectivism, brotherhood and mutual
\nresponsibility."<\/p>\n
"The mechanism of musyawarah untuk mufakat (deliberation in
\norder to reach consensus) is a noble cultural tradition...based
\non the belief that everybody has good intentions," he said. "The
\nprocess of reaching consensus shouldn't happen hastily, lest it
\noffends certain parties."<\/p>\n
"We should try as hard as possible to deliberate, in a wise
\nand intelligent manner, so that we can avoid traumatizing other
\npeople," he said.<\/p>\n
Approaches to problems which violate the principles of broad-
\nbased democratic leadership would undermine the nation's ability
\nto survive a crisis, he said.<\/p>\n
"We have learned from our history that social engineering does
\nnot survive crises," he said.<\/p>\n
In his statement, Wahono also mentioned the alleged collusion
\nat the Supreme Court, which is the nation's last bastion of
\njustice.<\/p>\n
"The House of Representatives believes that the question of
\nalleged collusion at the Supreme Court will be settled
\nappropriately," he said. Otherwise the Court would run the risk
\nof undermining its own credibility. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wahono-warns-of-hypocrisy-1447893297",
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