MPR speaker's awareness

MPR speaker's awareness

From Rakyat Merdeka

The election of Amien Rais as speaker of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) is a great honor because the position
of MPR speaker is higher than that of president. The MPR consists
of representatives of the people of the Republic of Indonesia.
The MPR's voice is the people's voice and the people's voice is
God's voice.

It would therefore be a big mistake if a president dared to
call members of the House of Representatives, who are also MPR
members, to his house to give them instructions or pointers on
how to conduct themselves during House sessions.

Amien's ability to put himself above sectoral problems of
parties, ethnic groups, etc. deserves praise. Amien is now
chairman of the representatives of the Indonesian nation. His
orientation is toward the interests of the Indonesian people.

I have long seen Amien's capacity for leadership. Characters
such as Prabu Dorna (name of a character in the wayang
who is an adviser to one side and then the other) should not be
tolerated. A true leader must be consistent and true to his word.
His words must not be like the wind, changing direction all the
time as he seeks his greatest benefit.

People without integrity should not be leaders, although it is
normal in politics for "big" people to have such instincts.

As for the people's representatives, I hope they will receive
high remuneration to avoid venality. However, it should not be
the government that pays their salary because the representatives
are not government officials.

MICHAEL TANOK

Jakarta