On comparative studies

On comparative studies

From Kompas

We feel proud knowing that the members of the House of Representatives conducted a comparative study in a certain foreign country. The aim of this study was clearly to enhance their organization and management capacity, and the people have no doubt always given full support to such programs.

However, is it true that our venerable legislators have done the right thing; or is it only a disguised activity?

According a news item in Kompas, on July 30, a member of the Indonesian Students Association abroad, saw by chance some Indonesian legislators just shopping for Gucci and Bally bags in France and Holland. In fact, the people they were supposed to be consulting with on the "study" during their survey were on vacation, or in a recess period.

Unfortunately, people here have never known or been told about the results of these studies, which were done by the legislators every time there is a change of government. It is a waste of money as no concrete results have ever been achieved.

They shouldn't do such an unproductive activity, particularly when the nation has been experiencing a number of catastrophes like the tsunami, malnutrition, bird flu and unemployment, just to name but a few.

If the aim is only to learn about the democracy as practiced in foreign countries and their national laws, the legislators can get the materials and learn the knowledge from our own experts in those particular areas in Indonesia. Our conclusion is that the people's representatives are not sensitive about the people's suffering.

PIETER Jakarta