Bloating caused by starvation

Bloating caused by starvation

From Tempo

It is really saddening to learn from the print and electronic
media how many skinny children in many places in Indonesia are
lying helplessly with bloated bellies, in a severely malnourished
condition.

On the other hand, we have also learned from the same print
and electronic media reports about massive graft involving huge
amounts of money, perpetrated by smartly-dressed, smug officials.

I'm really curious whether these smartly-dressed and smug
corruptors, who hold office in government and legislative
agencies, have ever learned of these cases of malnutrition,
bloated bellies and poverty, which are rampant in this country,
according to the print and electronic media. I'm equally curious
to know whether these people still have a fraction of their
conscience to take pity on their fellow creatures that have been
beset by such misfortune.

These people must realize that their disgusting corruption has
sent many of their fellow countrymen to the abyss of poverty.
Don't they feel embarrassed when, smartly dressed, they go abroad
while back home many of their fellow countrymen live in abject
poverty?

D.J. PAMOEDJI
Jakarta