No more lavish receptions

President Soeharto has once again reminded all of us, particularly our provincial authorities, that there is no need to be excessive or extravagant when receiving visiting dignitaries. By not indulging in such excesses the misuse of funds, meant for the improvement of the public welfare, can be avoided.

This mentality of offering excessive courtesies to officials must be corrected, as President Soeharto said, because our development efforts are not designed to please officials but to serve the people in general.

Visiting officials whose status are higher than that of those they are visiting should act as role models and not merely as furnishers of facilities. Therefore, when receiving visiting dignitaries and their entourages, there is no need for local officials and the local people to be extravagant in serving refreshments and presenting local dances to their guests and in presenting them with gifts.

Furthermore, those visiting dignitaries are traveling on expense accounts and do not need to burden the local authorities and people.

-- Suara Pembaruan, Jakarta