Different attitudes about crisis
Lately I have been asking people from various backgrounds what they thought and felt about the current situation. Here are some of the results.
A director of a state-owned enterprise had this to say: "Our nation is really facing a difficult time and so is my family. I am very much concerned about my son's business situation. He has very close links with the government company I am heading and has, until now, been enjoying a good life without having to work too hard.
"Everybody knows that he is my son, the son of the director, so regulations could be bypassed. Business doors could be opened widely and with a little bit of persuasion and subtle threats from me, my staff had no option but to be helpful to my son. But now is the time to show my patriotism and help to improve the nation's economy because when the economy is normal again, I and my son will again be able to benefit from it."
A high government official related the following: "Well, I am sure the condition will improve under the capable leadership of our President and I will work hard to help achieve the goal. There is nothing to take advantage of in the current economic situation. Luckily, I had the foresight of securing enough money before times became rough. So for the time being, my family and I are safe. I have three luxury houses in Indonesia, one in Perth, Australia and one in the USA and yet I have taken advantage of only a small percentage of the government funds under my care.
"But now I'm going to show that I'm a very good Indonesian and for the time being stop abusing government funds until the condition improves. I have sold 5 percent of my U.S. dollars and with the rupiah I bought, I can buy back more dollars later on when the rupiah regains its strength. I will shout as loud as possible 'I love rupiah' and 'I love domestic products'."
A good patriotic businessman sighed: "I'm facing a bleak future. My foreign currency loans will be due in a very short time, but this should not make me feel too downhearted. I am an Indonesian and Indonesians are a nation of winners. I am sure that with hard work we will recover.
"During the Old Order the situation was worse. Inflation reached 600 percent and yet we survived. The New Order regime has helped Indonesians enjoy a life never considered possible before. The people have enough to eat, enough to wear, housing problems become smaller and smaller, and we have a real life of peace and prosperity. Indonesia has given me all these good things in life and now it's my turn to work hard for the benefit of my beloved country.
"Do not look at what the government can give to you, but show what you can give to the government and the nation. I will work very hard, and with God's help we will recover."
A businessman of Chinese origin said: "It is really a hard time for us, not business-wise but because everybody is suspicious of us.
"In all honesty, I must say that I am a real Indonesian. I was born here, I live here, I breathe Indonesian air and I became prosperous because of Indonesia not because of China or Taiwan or Hong Kong. But how can I show my true feelings to my Indonesian friends. I want to be sincere and want to go all out to help my fatherland, Indonesia, but suspicion looms large over me.
"Sometimes, for no reason at all, our shops are attacked and burned. We want nothing, we want only to help Indonesia to get better. Oh God, protect us and show us what to do."
An unemployed man said: "We suffer most from this condition, but this is no time to be downhearted. This is the time to show our patriotism, not by selling foreign currency, because we don't have dollars. But we will stop listening to baseless rumors, which only create disturbances and send people into panic buying.
"I want to help the government find the people who are taking advantage of the situation for personal gain. Let us earnestly pray to God, and God will listen to our prayers in this holy month of Ramadhan."
SOEGIH ARTO
Jakarta