Luxury shopping & nationalism

From Kompas

The news that House members conducting comparative study tours abroad has aroused my concern. Shopping for luxury goods of famous brands has been the practice of legislative and executive delegations since the New Order period.

The important thing is how public officials can set an example of nationalism in daily practice. The Japanese, for instance, will go abroad using Japan Airlines where possible, stay at Japanese managed hotels and eat at Japanese restaurants. As expatriate personnel, they will use Japanese cars. The money they spend will thus mostly return to Japan.

Indonesians have the right to spend their money, but as a nation still facing a crisis we should be wise. Goods of top world brands are also available in Jakarta, though they are indeed expensive. But import duty and taxes go to the state, shop rents to our businessmen, who also pay taxes, while lots of citizens get employment when we shop at home.

In order to show off about our foreign tours to our relatives and neighbors, we should just show photos taken overseas and buy souvenirs typical of the countries or cities visited as presents or decorations.

ISMANGOEN NOTOSAPOETRO Semarang, Central Java