On fasting

On fasting

From Media Indonesia

The appeal of President B.J. Habibie that, in order to save rice, the people should fast on Mondays and Thursdays, is causing deep concern.

Actually this appeal would be better directed at government officials -- ministers, governors, mayors, regents, district and subdistrict chiefs and their families, and not to the vast majority of the people. And the rice saved could be distributed to needy people.

Please, have mercy on the people, Mr. President! They are really poor. They were not waiting for your appeal, because they were already fasting. They might even fast more than twice a week. In fact, they cannot afford staple foods with their meager incomes, not to mention the newly retrenched.

I believe you are too busy to read newspaper reports to the effect that many of our people have been starving and have not been able to afford to buy rice, let alone accompanying dishes. And so they have to do with tiwul (dried cassava mixed with bran). Have these people to fast also?

Now, imagine, how much does a regent earn a month? Could it be hundreds of millions of rupiah, so that a government official like the regent of Bantul, Central Java, would be able to contribute Rp 1 billion to the Dharmais Foundation? How much does a governor earn; enough to make it possible for the Central Java governor to provide 100 Timor cars to members of the provincial legislature on credit? The charge that the funds used were from his own pocket was later denied. Instead it was reported that the money was left over from the provincial budget.

Reform activities should apply to such officials, and the government should investigate the source of their wealth. In view of the present crisis, I would like to suggest as follows:

* At least for a short-term measure, the government should continue to deduct 50 percent of the monthly salaries of the President, ministers, governors, mayors, regents, district and subdistrict chiefs. The money collected could be used to help the poor.

* Declare as haram (forbidden by Islam) all activities related to corruption, collusion and nepotism and also the siphoning of the nation's wealth.

* Audit officials' wealth.

I sincerely hope that the President takes wise steps in the name of justice.

HERIE BUDIONO

Jakarta