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.