Legislators with coolie mentality

Legislators with coolie mentality

From Media Indonesia

I agree with University of Indonesia political observer M.
Budyatna's statement "Legislators have a coolie mentality" on the
case of the award/separation pay conferred to the legislators of
the 1997/2002 period by B.J. Habibie based on their achievement
at the House of Representatives.

The honorable members of the House of Representatives have
been accused of having a coolie mentality because:

First, money awards are usually given by a company to
employees based on the evaluation of their performance. House
members are not employees. They are neither subordinates of the
presidential institution. The legislator's is a noble job based
on the people's trust.

Second, to become a member of the House is the result of the
people's choice through the general election. Thus, legislators
should first ask for the people's agreement whether to accept or
to reject the pay of Rp 150 million per person. If the people
agree to it, the legislators will feel proud. It means that the
people evaluate their representatives' performance as
satisfactory. On the other hand, if the people do not agree to
it, the legislators should show equanimity. It means their
performance is poor.

Third, those evaluating whether the legislators have achieved
something or not during their task is not the presidential
institution or the president but Indonesia's people. Of course
the president can give an assessment of the legislators'
performances, but it would be a subjective evaluation. An
evaluation of achievement may be given because the laws passed by
the legislators so far have been in accordance with the wishes
of and the partiality with the government or the authorities. It
is not the laws that are in accordance with the conscience or the
interest of the people.

May the honorable legislators ask their conscience before they
accept or reject the money gained by the people's sweat. They
should not forget the chaotic economic situation and hurt the
people's feelings again.

RUKMA BANGUN

Bekasi, West Java