Indonesian legislators

I was shocked to read Amir Santoso's view in "Insight" Legislative representation is getting better (May 13).

He said it could take from ten to 100 years for Indonesia to produce legislators who listen to their own conscience, to their constituency, and to their party.

If we were talking about when Indonesia could produce Nobel laureates in physics and chemistry, then we expect it could take 100 years. But this is a moral issue. It's a question of whether Indonesian legislators have integrity and courage. One does not need years of study to acquire moral integrity, you have it or you don't.

OLVIA REKSODIPOETRO

Jakarta