Concern for

Concern for
Indonesian

As an Indonesian citizen concerned over Bahasa Indonesia, I am
deeply impressed by the Australian high school students who speak
Bahasa Indonesia fluently and flawlessly (The Jakarta Post, April
15, 1994). I also appreciate any concern over Bahasa Indonesia in
any form, including the lament made in this paper's editorial.

However, I would like to mention some general language
phenomena, in relation with the editorial.

When I was in college, though I was majoring English, I
studied style (variations) of language. There are five styles:
frozen, formal, consultative, casual and intimate styles. These
styles are found in almost any society. The styles reflect the
difference in nuance and relationship of the speakers and
listeners, or of writers and readers. In casual style, for
example, we may find some omissions of certain grammatical
structures, or short forms of certain words.

So speaking with friends requires a different style than
speaking with strangers. In the first instance, we might tend to
use a casual style, while in the second, a formal style. The use
of a casual or intimate style among close friends is a common
phenomenon found in any society. It does not necessarily mean, I
suppose, "a tendency to use the national language with too little
respect towards grammar in order to show their status," as the
editorial states. Just imagine what would happen if we used the
formal style when we talked among close friends, and what the
result would be if we used the casual style, say using gue, when
we talked to strangers.

The second language phenomenon I would like to mention is the
use of foreign or local words in Bahasa Indonesia sentences. This
happens very often in our society. The purpose of using foreign
or local words is to give the exact meaning the words convey
since Bahasa Indonesia might not have an equivalent. The speaker
or writer worries that the use of translation does not convey the
same things as the original words do.

This is our "assignment." A couple of years ago we could still
hear people using the word "monitor" (as in memonitor, verb). But
now the exact equivalence in Bahasa Indonesia is memantau (verb).

However, I realize that there are some people who use this
application just to show off.

ABDUL MUKTI

Jakarta

Why foreign
pilots?

From Suara Karya

When we travel by air on domestic flights we often find a
foreign pilot in the cockpit besides an Indonesian one. This
seems strange if we follow the development of civil aviation in
this country, especially as far as the cockpit crew is concerned.

If we look back at the situation in the 1950s, there were only
two airlines in Indonesia -- Garuda Indonesian Airways (now PT
Garuda Indonesia) and Kroonduif (now PT Merpati Nusantara). At
that time all pilots of the two companies were KLM (Royal Dutch
Airways) pilots, who worked for Indonesia, because civil aviation
was still unpopular among Indonesian young people.

In 1954, Garuda Indonesian Airways recruited some Indonesian
pilots from the Air Force, and in the meantime graduates from Ast
Hamble (Britain), Indonesian Aviation Academy (Curug) and
Rijksluchtvaart School (The Netherlands) began to fill cockpits
as pilots, with the captain still being a foreign pilot. Not
until 1956 did Indonesian pilots begin to act as captains for
smaller aircraft.

In 1958, when Indonesia was struggling to regain West Irian
from the Dutch, Indonesian pilots began to take over the cockpit
from the Dutch pilots who had to leave Indonesia.

That at the present time we still see foreign pilots in the
cockpits of Indonesian fleet gives rise to some questions.

First, are Indonesians less capable of flying aircraft,
including Aircharter and Airtaxi? Is it true that Indonesian
Aviation Schools cannot produce enough pilots to meet demand?
Also, is it true that the present fleet is so sophisticated that
foreign pilots are needed to handle the aircraft, while
Indonesian pilots are being prepared for a technology takeover?

SUMITRO

Jakarta

Sexual diseases
in Irian Jaya

From Kompas

It is unfortunate that the governor of Irian Jaya has
rejected the report appearing in the Kompas daily that sexually
transmitted diseases are a major problem among villagers in the
Baliem Valley.

If the report is true, it is important to take action to
protect the villagers, who constitute the smallest number of
Irian Jaya tribespeople, from extinction.

The report is not like the explosion of a bomb as the governor
suggested. However, the diseases will certainly become a time
bomb, if the government fails to handle the problem immediately.

We should remember that the people of Irian are Indonesians
who need our concern and help. Prompt action from the government
will be appreciated.

MARIA MMF KAISIEPO

Bogor, West Java

Land compensation
rates in Maluku

From Pelita

On the behalf of the villagers of Laimu Village, Tehoru
District, Central Maluku Regency, Ambon, I plead with the
Ministry of Home Affairs to re-evaluate the amount of land
compensation paid by the cement company, Maluku Semen Dinamika,
and the subdistrict head of Laimu Village.

We base our pleas on the knowledge that the company has been
collaborating with the subdistrict head of Laimu, forcing us to
relinquish our land at only Rp 1,000 per meter.

We do not object to the construction of a cement factory in
our village, but expect them to compensate us for our land and
the plants on it at appropriate amounts. The trees did not grow
there by themselves.

We hope the government will intervene immediately, or there
will be more poor villages in this country.

MARIO ABUBAKAR KUMKELO

Laimu Village, Ambon

Supporters for
Thomas, Uber cups

From Kompas

The Indonesian badminton players' recent success in the All
England finals brings optimism that the nation will seize the
Thomas Cup and the Uber Cup in May.

Nevertheless, the Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI)
should be alert about the non-technical factors influencing our
performance. Among these being the behavior of our players'
supporters.

I think Indonesian supporters are unpredictable and they may
mock or boo our players, when they are having difficulties
winning.

It is advisable for PBSI to screen supporters and give them
free tickets to ensure that they will be polite and support our
players even when their rivals lead in the matches.

These supporters could be deployed only during the final
rounds.

I wish the players well. Win the cups.

SJAMSIDIK

Jakarta
Judges' salaries
and hard duties

From Kompas

The negative image of Indonesian judges cannot help but to
prevail.

Judges are human beings who make mistakes just like anyone
else. They can also be tempted by consumerism and the glamorous
way of life of a big city.

Compared to those of their ASEAN counterparts, the salaries of
Indonesian judges are poor.

I think the government should review the salary system for
judges in light of the difficult tasks the judges face in
upholding justice and truth. They deserve millions of rupiah per
month.

ARY SETYADHARMA

Pangkalan Bun

Central Kalimantan