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