Betrayal of the highest order

Skipping class, a common habit among students, is, apparently also a favorite activity of our political leaders in the House of Representatives (DPR).

The problem is that for students it is a natural process of growing up and learning to become responsible, whereas House members are expected to have already grown up. They are expected to act responsibly and professionally in leading this country -- during an extremely critical juncture in our history -- out of a number of crises.

Many members of the House are habitually neglecting their obligations as servants of the people and the nation by not showing up for work. This was made clear as a result of a study conducted by Forum Komunikasi Massa.

For the period of October 2000 to October 2001, the Forum found that some 30 percent out of the 500 DPR members have often skipped plenary sessions or commission meetings. If the study were to have added those members who left immediately after attendance was taken the results would have been even more shocking, according to Forum members.

The DPR was originally conceived to be an honorable institution. Its members have been chosen through a process of costly general elections, and they have an obligation to earn the respect they are accorded.

With all due respect for those diligent DPR members who do work, we still need to remind all of them that absence from a meeting is a disgraceful act -- an act that should be regarded as a betrayal of the people and the nation.

Do these DPR members realize that the millions of rupiah they get in salary comes from the nation's hardworking taxpayers? And, some 60 percent of these taxpayers are the poor citizens who earn a mere fraction of what these men and women get each month.

Do these absentees also realize that part of their salaries are paid by loans from foreign countries, loans which are now increasing, and place a great burden on the people?

If DPR members can not eliminate their childish habits, they need to be replaced by ethical, responsible people -- now!

-- Republika, Jakarta