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