Elite's lack of concern

Elite's lack of concern

From Media Indonesia

The government finally raised fuel oil prices, effective as of
March 1. Minister of Finance Jusuf Anwar said this decision
required no approval from the House of Representatives (DPR),
unless a state budget amendment was sought.

The minister may be right that the fuel price increase is the
government's prerogative. But he may have forgotten that the
House represents the population and is the government's partner,
which should have been consulted.

In dealing with the sensitive issue of fuel prices, the
government seems to have overlooked the House, which opposed the
fuel price rise. It even tried to justify the increase through
the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), whose speaker was
present when the president announced the decision.

Does it mean that the DPD has a more important role than the
House? If so, why has the DPD looked just like an "adornment of
democracy", with the right to speak yet without the right to
vote? This is really an oddity.

LUKMAN HAKIM
Jakarta