Megawati's 'separation package'

Megawati's 'separation package'

As her tenure comes to an end, incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri recently issued a presidential decree on the "separation package" to be received by the outgoing president and vice president.

In the decree, she will get a Rp 20 billion house, a car which comes with a chauffeur, security service, free electricity and telephone expenses, a pension, a health allowance and a private secretary.

Cabinet deputy secretary, Erman Radjagukguk, said the decree was based on Law No 7/1978. Unfortunately, we have never heard of such law. It could be because former president, Soeharto, was forced out of office, as were his successors before Megawati. This has made them unable to think about such a separation package.

There is actually nothing wrong with it, as we have been taught to respect our leaders. However, in a nation plagued by corruption, there should be no empathy for such a separation package.

We should instead focus on eradicating poverty, reducing unemployment and building damaged elementary school buildings.

As such, it would be enough for former presidents to be given security service, a health facility and a pension. Housing? What for? For whom?

Being leaders who understand the people is not easy. We see how poor our leaders' sensitivity is. Being insensitive to the people's plight has become common. Pretty soon, we will hear about leaders in the provinces demanding for a separation package. -- Republika, Jakarta