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