No model example

No model example

What has made other countries develop better than Indonesia?
There must be many factors, but we are of the opinion that
discipline is the key.

Discipline must derive from "above", meaning that it is
impossible to expect people to be disciplined without their
leaders first setting a good example of discipline.

Unfortunately, our elites have always failed to set a model
example of discipline.

The newest example is the ongoing People's Consultative
Assembly Annual Session. On the first day, only 498 of 679
Assembly members were present, but at the close of the first
day's session, only 393 Assembly members remained.

Worse, they had irrational excuses for skipping the opening
day of the Rp 20 billion Annual Session. Golkar Party Chairman
Akbar Tandjung, for example, said that he preferred meeting
Golkar cadres of Bekasi and Bogor to joining the noble session.
However, all members of the Assembly, without fail, should have
joined the annual gathering at which major decisions are expected
to be made.

Some people may say that there are no strategic issues to be
discussed at the Annual Session. The question, then, is why must
such a costly meeting be held?

So what could we possibly expect from such unscrupulous
Assembly members? They don't care about the fate of the nation,
for which they should be accountable. Unfortunately, there are no
rules or regulations under which to punish these unscrupulous
Assembly members.

-- Republika, Jakarta

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Otherop-model
The capacity of ears to listen to critics
JP/6/critic

The capacity of ears to listen to critics

Being criticized is seen as unpleasant, so not everyone likes
to be criticized, and some people react with anger to criticisms.

Take the ongoing Annual Session of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR), for instance. Many see it as a waste of money.

They say that holding the session is rather insensitive, as
the country has yet to bail itself out of the economic crisis.
They also say that the session has nothing crucial to discuss.

Yet, the people should be proud of the MPR and its decision to
shorten the session by three days to save the state Rp 6 billion.

This should serve as a model for other state institutions,
particularly the office of the President. It would be wise to
listen to the critics, no matter how bitter their criticisms may
be, as this is a test of democracy.

Once again, we salute the MPR.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta