Crisis: Govt must show concern

Crisis: Govt must show concern

From Ummat

With each passing day, Indonesians are feeling an increasingly stronger pinch given by the economic crisis. Prices of daily needs are skyrocketing. Starvation is happening in many places. In Lampung, some residents died, poisoned by the tiwul (snack made from dried cassava) that they were eating in place of rice. We, the little people, are in a panicky condition and live in the shadow of fear. Will we have the same tragic fate?

The government has called on the people to keep calm because it is trying to save the nation's economy. They have asked us to believe that they are concerned with the fate of the people.

Yet, the attitude presented by some ministers on TV is far from showing any concern. They laugh while the people are sinking more and more deeply in their plight. Why does it seem that the economic crisis has hit hard at us, the little people, but not at them? Their appearance and the way they dress indicate that they are insensitive toward our poor fate.

We have seen all the facilities that the government has extended to the ministers. Then, the government asks the people to believe that it is short of funds and that it needs to borrow money from other countries. If the state is in financial straits, don't burden the little people by increasing the prices!

Why doesn't the government simply scrap the ministers' spending budget and utilize the funds to save our economy? We believe that if the government is earnestly trying to save us, the little people, it can do so. Our country is rich and we, the Indonesian people, have a right over this wealth.

Let us call on our national leaders so that they show concern over our plight by living a modest life. Modesty in their attitude and appearance will be a comforting sight to us. Their luxury hurts us most.

ELLO ALAYDRUS

Jakarta