Leaders must be more honest

Leaders must be more honest

From Media Indonesia

Some party leaders have reacted in panic to results of the 2004 legislative election by initiating a 19-party coalition against the vote gains, despite a subsequent correction of this statement by the relevant political parties.

Now we are witnessing a debate on the formation of a "national salvation axis", which, according to National Mandate Party leader Amien Rais, is aimed at preventing the revival of old power.

However, Amien Rais denied the claim that the axis he proposed was designed to prevent the rise of Megawati Soekarnoputri to the presidency, as in the case of his "central axis" in 1999.

Whatever members of the political elite may be doing, people will perceive it as theater, with the likelihood of the audience either applauding or booing the actors off the stage.

It seems that in the 2004 general election, with such politicians strutting about on stage, people will not applaud because the players are not guided by their consciences. What they need to do is simply listen to their consciences.

J. WAHYU PADMADIANI Denpasar, Bali