'Businesspeople should follow Assembly's example'

'Businesspeople should follow Assembly's example'

The decision of four leaders of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) to refuse the luxuries they are entitled to,
including Volvo cars and plush hotel suites, has received various
reactions from the public. The Jakarta Post talked to some
residents about the issue.

Gobind Vashdev, 30, volunteers for a social foundation. He
lives with his family in Sunter, North Jakarta:

That's a really extraordinary example for Indonesians. I hope
that all MPR members can follow (MPR chairman) Hidayat
(Nurwahid)'s suit.

I observe that in India, most top officials, including
ministers, have been proud of using modest and locally made cars
rather than luxurious cars, thanks to the swadeshi spirit that
encourages people to use Indian-made products.

Such a good example must also be followed by our businessmen.
The virtue of modesty will have a positive impact on our society,
which has been bombarded by advertisements for so long. This
blitz of ads sells superficial cosmetics as a mask to disguise
the glaring self-deficiency felt by most people today. I
appreciate Hidayat's move as a new breakthrough, to see the true
value beyond superficiality.

Ridno, 30, is a private bank employee in Pasar Baru, Central
Jakarta. He lives with his wife and daughter in Casablanca, South
Jakarta:

It is a good example and it is set through action. Giving an
example is more effective than empty words.

If more high-ranking officials set such a good example, I
believe all officials in the government would follow suit. Such
calls for officials to be thrifty will lead to a significant
reduction in the nation's spending. I wonder how much money can
be saved and channeled to other projects, which have a greater
impact on the public -- including public transportation and
housing projects.

The sum of Rp 2 billion (US$219,780) may be peanuts compared
to our hefty state budget, but imagine how many low-cost houses
could be built using that money.

-- The Jakarta Post