'I don't place much hope in our legislators'

The government decision to raise fuel prices by an average of 29 percent early this month has divided members of the House of Representatives. The dispute turned ugly last week when House members supporting the policy got involved in a fight with those opposing it. The Jakarta Post interviewed residents here to get their comments on the incident.

Salam, 39, a freelance worker living in Kampung Sawah, Cipinang Muara, East Jakarta.

Legislators fighting? It's nonsense to say that they were defending the aspirations of the public. If they wanted our demands to be heard, why would they fight? They could find better ways to debate the issue without hurting each other.

They were just like kids fighting over an ice cream. From what I see, they can never learn to behave maturely.

When we elected them last year, I thought they were smart people who really understood the circumstances of the poor. Obviously, I was wrong. No, I don't really know if I can count on them or not.

I'm just an ordinary person. I work really hard to feed my family. I don't place much hope in our legislators. There's nothing I can do except accept the fuel price increases or whatever other increases that are coming. It just means that I have to work extra hard.

Soebagyo, 24, an accounting student attending the YAI University in Salemba, Central Jakarta. He hails from Pekalongan, Central Java and now lives with his foster parents in Kelapa Dua, West Jakarta.

Hmmm ... let's see. The legislators were fighting for something that is not going to happen (the rolling back of the fuel price rises). They were just pretending to be outraged and that's not the way to struggle for the people's interests.

Of course, we want the fuel price hike to be canceled, but I think the legislators need to use a strategic and more refined approach rather than violence.

They now have a great opportunity to really show their capabilities. Don't let the bad habits of our previous legislators affect the current legislators.

They will persistently have a bad image if they continue to fight over the interests of the different factions. People already have a stereotype that legislators only talk a lot and don't actually do much. Well, I know that they are paid to work.