Medal for a trouble maker?

Medal for a trouble maker?

From Sinar Pagi

Surely every significant achievement deserves appreciation. Someone who has done a great thing should be honored in whatever possible manner. But I find the recent medal presentation by President Habibie something incomprehensible.

Some controversial figures who are now still a subject of polemics concerning the Bank Bali scandal and considered a source of all sorts of troubles in this country, were conferred with the country's most prestigious medals by President Habibie. How could a medal be presented to a person who had no right to receive it? So I view this as no more than a Habibie political maneuver. Alternatively, Habibie is being pushed around by his advisors so that he continues to take insensible actions.

We should not forget the late Thaher case. He was honored as a hero by being buried in a heroes cemetery, but later he was known to have been involved in a criminal issue. What a contradictory state of affairs!

SUKMADI

Jakarta