Bad political elite

Bad political elite

From Koran Tempo

Military and political observer Lt. Gen. (ret) Kiki Syahnakrie, during a discussion in Jakarta, indicated that the upcoming presidential runoff was a potential source of conflict due to the slim vote difference between Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Megawati Soekarnoputri.

In fact, since president Soeharto stepped down, the political elite, government officials, party executives, ambitious clerics and a handful of students have been involved in conflicts. Ordinary people are mostly indifferent to this because none of the elite have taken care of public interests.

Despite the difficult of their lives, people have remained modest, particularly in villages, where courtesy, hospitality and mutual assistance characterize life. In most cities, the well-to- do elite have abandoned the nation's character and live in suspicion, fear and discomfort.

Poor people earn their money by honest means, so they do n0t face any threats and live peacefully, while most of the wealthy elite in major cities are implicated in the pursuit of illicit wealth, so they constitute a source of conflict.

Now let the elite clash as they wish until the day comes when a true leader emerges to rescue the people of Indonesia, without the ambition of seizing wealth by illegal means.

KANDAR Bandung