Businesses of official's children

Recently newspapers are full of news concerning high officials' children doing business. I really do not understand why there is such a fuss. People notice that high officials' children are advancing very fast and have become wealthy in no time, while normal business people have to toil and find the going so tough that they only advance at a snail's pace.

They say there must be something wrong. I agree that there is something wrong. But people are looking in the wrong direction when they try to blame the children of high officials.

The children are not to blame, they are Indonesian citizens just as other people, having the same rights and obligations. When you want to find out what is wrong, then you must look in the direction of the officials, who have the authority to grant or to refuse. If these officials adhere to the existing rules and regulations and treat everybody indiscriminately, everything would be normal. Why did we have this Edy Tansil affair? Only because the officials of the bank did not adhere to the existing rules and regulations.

The officials' children are just trying to get favors, like any other businesspeople. Whether they get the favors they want or not is not a problem. Everything is worth a try.

The officials who have the power are commercializing their positions, expecting favors in return from the fathers of these children.

On August 16, 1976, the President said in his state address: "Government officials should not commercialize their position and functions, and do the jobs only when they can expect something in return". "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours," the English saying goes.

Let us appeal to the officials to keep their oath in mind and give everybody the same treatment. No favors, be fair in dealing with businesspeople.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta