MPR Session expected to voice people's aspirations and concerns

MPR Session expected to voice people's aspirations and concerns

JAKARTA (JP): The 1,000 people gathered today at the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) building are Indonesia's
representatives, whose task is, among other things, to make sure
that the interests of the people are served.

The people themselves, including those on the streets, have
their own say on the five-yearly General Session of the Assembly
to elect a president, vice president and approve the State Policy
Guidelines.

Farida Oetoyo, a dancer, and chairwoman of the Gedung Kesenian
Jakarta management board: I think the session is held only
because the Assembly has to meet its obligation; it has to be
held no matter the circumstances are.

What's most important is that MPR members carry out their
duties and not abuse the public's trust. I hope they can bring us
a better future.

I don't have anyone specific for the presidential election,
but for the vice presidency, I prefer Emil Salim. I trust him.

I hope that the people's representatives give adequate
attention in the policy guidelines for those in the arts. Art and
culture can boost the country's image, but so far, I feel that
they have been ignored, neglected.

Gunawan, an employee of state-owned bank on Jl. Jend.
Sudirman, Central Jakarta: Personally, I have no interest in the
congress ... I consider the event a waste of the people's money.

There is no point because the MPR has no real power to select
a president or vice president. It's all a facade, everyone knows
who will become president and vice president anyway.

Actually, I hope both the House of Representatives (DPR) and
the MPR members can have the power to voice people's demands,
such as in the control of prices.

They should not just bow to the government's wishes all the
time. It is the people who select them to represent their
interests and who pay their huge salaries.

But, to me, it looks like they can do nothing for us. What's
outrageous is that DPR members even dared to use workers
insurance funds to pass a bill. I loathe them.

I respect Soeharto's leadership, but he has ruled long enough
and it is about time that he stepped down. And Habibie is better
known as a planemaker instead of a politician. I think the
country needs new leaders, people who are honest and will
prioritize the people's interests, people like Amien Rais and
Emil Salim.

Ade Rai, Indonesia's top bodybuilder and a graduate of the
University of Indonesia's School of Social and Political
Sciences: Although I studied politics I mostly only know that the
General Session is meant to, among other things, elect a
president and vice president. We hope that our representatives
can do their job well.

I think the Assembly members must focus on the people's need
for basic commodities, which are now expensive and hard to find
in the markets. They must also find ways to best solve the
monetary crisis.

I have no comments on the Soeharto-Habibie duo. I just hope
they both can work together and better for the sake of the
country.

Purnomo, Indonesia's top sprinter in the 1980s: Former
athletes like me, especially track and field athletes, can only
hope for a peaceful and safe country. It doesn't matter who leads
the country, we don't know anything about politics.

If the Assembly decides Soeharto-Habibie as the president and
vice president, we can only accept it.

I just hope that the Assembly and the government will work
harder to overcome the economic turmoil. The MPR must also
consider the people's need for food, which is vital. We only hope
that the economic condition will recover so that it's no longer
hard to earn money.

The most important thing is that the government must be able
to eradicate the conflict between people of different races,
between the indigenous and nonindigenous. The conflict will only
break our unity.

Satrio Arismunandar, journalist and labor activist: All I
expect of the congress is for the members of all factions in the
MPR to hear, and in turn voice, the people's aspirations and
concerns, instead of voicing their organizational interests.

They should become the representatives of the people, not of
political organizations.

Panangian Simanungkalit, president of the property consultancy
firm Pusat Studi Properti Indonesia: Honestly speaking, like many
citizens who have lost confidence in the government and its
mechanisms, I am pessimistic the session will bring about
meaningful results to the country and its people.

Anyway, from the bottom of my heart, I still cherish a hope
that the Assembly will produce a State Policy Guidelines that
provides the country with a new paradigm. One which will clean
the country of corruption, collusion, nepotism and other social
ills which have long persisted here.

The Assembly will choose a president and vice president, but
the most important issue for me right now is the cabinet because
the cabinet is actually the real leaders of the country.

The cabinet must comprise people who are clean and have
vision, patriotism, and dare to become agents of change. Only
these people can realize the new paradigm.

Harun Hajadi, managing director of Ciputra Development group
of companies: I think the General Session is a significant point
in time for the country because it is a follow-up, the
conclusion, of the general election held in May last year. It
will also approve the State Policy Guidelines, which will outline
and determine the country's whole life for the next five year.

I believe that members of the MPR have represented the
aspirations of Indonesia's whole population, including me, and
they have been working under a good (political) system. I have no
doubt about them because they are in line with the system.

As for the prospect of a Soeharto-Habibie duo, I believe that
the President knows pretty well the person he has to work with. I
trust the President to lead the country in order to bring more
prosperity and welfare here. I believe in them and I don't have
any other nominees.

Anton Supit, Chairman of the Indonesian Footwear Association:
We expect the MPR to be people-oriented. Anything that is not in
the people's interests, such as monopolies, corruption and
collusion, must be discussed and eliminated.

The basic issue is law enforcement. We hope the MPR would
ensure that there is effective law enforcement. In the past, law
enforcement has not been consistent or sound.

I see this prestigious institution as lacking effectiveness.
We don't really hear and feel its presence. Especially during the
currency crisis, when we need its participation as a means of
social control.

Had the past State Policy Guidelines -- for instance on equal
distribution of wealth -- been implemented, things would not have
gotten this bad.

The next leaders, whoever they are, must be able to manage the
economy, get us out of this crisis, at least in the short term.
Whether the Soeharto-Habibie duo can manage this, we cannot judge
yet. Soeharto has the experience, but Habibie needs to prove his
ability in managing the economy.

Unfortunately, this is no "trial and error period". If you
fail, everything will collapse completely.

M. Jusuf Ronodipuro, former diplomat: I think there is no
problem at all about the session because it has been well-packed
and arranged. It needs only to be executed and finished.

But I don't understand why the security measures have to be
taken to such extremes. This is something that will inevitably
influence what the public thinks about the Assembly. It only
causes tension.

Abu Thalib, in his 50s, a fruit trader at the Central Jakarta
District Court: I don't know what the General Session of the
People's Consultative Assembly really is. I only hope that the
leaders elected in the congress can maintain security. So people
like me can do business smoothly. No riots.

The important requirements for the leaders, I think, are iman
(faith) and taqwa (fear of Allah), so they can manage the country
in the correct manner.

How to improve our country's situation? It all depends on us.
Allah will not change our fate if we don't change it ourselves.

Ivan, 18, student at a senior high school in Sunter, North
Jakarta: Personally, the congress is nothing special to me. Not
that I don't care about this country but I think the result will
not directly affect my personal life. Of course, I really hope
that all the members will, at least, fight for the people's
interest ...

But, to be honest, I'm not sure they will. Why? You know why.
The next president is, of course, Pak Harto. The vice president?
I don't know. I do not agree with the duo that my so-called
representatives have picked for me, but what can I say?

Too bad I can't think of some other people to sit in the two
chairs. (team)