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)