Fountain, not a necessity

Fountain, not a necessity

From Kompas

The fountain at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle worth Rp 14.3 billion has proven to be a planning blunder, as revealed in an article in Kompas on July 20. The cost of the fountain is so huge, and it had to be renovated in less than a month after it was built. Worse still, why should a fountain, which is not a primary necessity, be given priority instead of the alleviation of poverty in this difficult period? The relevant authorities easily forgot the recent flood disasters, the housewives who cannot afford to give nutritious food to their children, pay school fees or even buy school books.

It makes me wonder where the authorities are when the mass media reports sharp increases in poverty rates, the number of school drop-outs and street children. The succeeding generation should be given first priority rather than the building of a fountain. Don't the officials in charge of public welfare have any conscience?

This is due to the capitalist system, which has produced egoistic persons who do not care about the fate of the majority.

ARUM HARJANTI

Cibinong, Bogor