Musings on a modest lifestyle

Whether we like it or not, we have learned at least two good lessons from Hidayat Nurwahid. First, as the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker, about two weeks ago he handed over his party's leadership (the Prosperous Justice Party -- PKS) to Tifatul Sembiring.

The transfer of PKS leadership, he said, was meant to prevent a conflict of interest between the state and party duties, and he did it only to implement the tradition of his party, when he got it from his predecessor, former forestry minister Nurmahmudi Ismail, who quit the PKS leadership when he was appointed a minister during the Abdurrahman Wahid administration.

Second, just recently he and his deputy speakers set another good example by publicly announcing that they would forego some of the luxury perks they are entitled to, namely the Volvo limousines and royal suites in hotel rooms whenever the MPR holds sessions (The Jakarta Post, Oct. 13). He said the message was clear that he wanted to reduce state expenditures and show his sense of crisis to his people.

He supposedly learned from India's Mahatma Gandhi who taught his people to live a modest life, and spurned or boycotted British-made goods in his struggle for independence from Britain. His people have practiced his teachings up the present as the Indian Prime Minister and the parliamentarians ride around in Indian made "limousines".

Their high sense of nationalism can be seen from their use of their own products although undeniably, there are some luxuries for those who want them, outside of official duties.

As far as Indonesia is concerned, living a modest lifestyle is only jargon, which is far from being practiced. Riding around in luxury limousines, especially Volvos, dates back to the Soeharto regime when Indonesia was profiting greatly from the oil boom in 1974 and thereafter, and staying in the posh hotel Mulia for the MPR speakers dates back to the 1990s after the hotel, which belongs to one of Soeharto's sons, was opened.

These sorts of comforts are hard to give up after being enjoyed for decades, despite the fact that this country was battered by economic and social crises in the late 1990s, which until now have not been entirely overcome.

I do hope that by having a more modest lifestyle, this country will make better achievements than before.

M. RUSDI Jakarta