Change for the better

Change for the better

From Merdeka

Let me first congratulate Prof. B.J. Habibie on his appointment as president of the Republic of Indonesia, a very important position in this country, and the leader of 200 million people made up of diverse racial and tribal groups and various religions.

In view of the fact that he came into this position by virtue of Article 8 of the 1945 Constitution and with the assistance of a student movement (indirectly), the following must be borne in mind:

1. In this transitional period, elements of corruption, collusion and nepotism must be removed from all ranks of the Development and Reform Cabinet. As we know, many government officials' children ask to be awarded certain projects.

2. Ministers should always coordinate before making a statement/decision. The previous Cabinet failed to take a lesson from the Cabinet before it: regarding one subject, for example, one minister said one thing and another minister said another.

3. Our rich natural resources, say palm oil and spices, must be properly tapped so that our dependence on foreign aid (which is nothing but loans) may be gradually abolished.

4. A proposal must immediately be tabled by the House of People's Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly (DPR/MPR) that they recall members who fail to heed popular aspirations.

5. All regulations and practices disadvantaging the people, such as monopolistic practices which benefit only certain groups; the law on subversion and the revocation of press publication business license (SIUPP), must be abolished.

6. Transparency must exist in all policies and decisions so that it can be assessed whether they are fit for implementation.

7. The honorable House of Representatives must also be consulted in decision-making concerning the interests of the people at large.

The list goes on long because there are many other things that must be borne in mind. There has been too much rottenness all these years and I, like other laymen, can only feel apathy in the face of rotten practices.

ANDRI HARDIANDI

Jakarta