Is Kwik ill?

Is Kwik ill?

Taufik Kiemas, the husband of chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also the nation's president, has suggested that Kwik Kian Gie, one of the party's chairmen, have a checkup (on his health).

Taufik's statements were made to journalists who asked for his comments following Kwik's recent controversial remarks that PDI Perjuangan was the most corrupt party of all.

Is Taufik thinking that Kwik is in such bad shape that he needs to check his health? Taufik did not elaborate. However, we know that Taufik's statement was made to counter Kwik's remark. The members of PDI Perjuangan must have been hurt by Kwik's vulgar statement and thus denied it.

Kwik is one of many people in the country who has become very upset and uneasy upon seeing and hearing about corruption. He had just released his new book titled Pemberantasan Korupsi untuk Meraih Kemandirian, Kemakmuran, Kesejahteraan dan Keadilan (Corruption Eradication for Achieving Independence, Prosperity, Welfare and Justice). In the book he said that the public (Indonesians) has been suffering seriously from social illnesses: corruption, collusion and nepotism. He also said that the public must be subject to corruption eradication.

The book also illustrates how a state-owned bank produced special accounts that were to be thrown to trash bins and made all of its branches close their books at the same time to show a balanced position.

What we do know is that Kwik is "Mr. Clean". He is neither a dreamer nor a lunatic.

Harian Ekonomi Neraca, Jakarta