Modest life and consistency

Modest life and consistency

From Kompas

President Megawati and cabinet ministers have always appealed to the nation to lead a modest life. Ironically, Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle held its national conference from March 10 through March 13 at a five-star hotel (Shangril-La, Jakarta).

The ordinary people in society are only willing to understand, sacrifice and suffer if their leaders set examples and sincerely strive to work for grass-roots interests in the defense of justice and truth.

However, if our leaders respond to all the public sacrifice by driving luxury cars, traveling abroad in large groups, favoring delinquent conglomerate debtors by making release and discharge decisions, demonstrations will arise to demand the government to step down.

Great and respected leaders are those who first sacrifice their comfort, set good examples and maintain consistency in keeping their word.

HENGKY J. SUTJIADI, Jakarta