On lazy councillors
Having read Daniel Ziv's jaw-dropping and amusing article Jakarta overpaid, underworked councillors in it for the money (The Jakarta Post, Oct. 24) on Jakarta's hard working councillors, followed by Elis Komaryanah's letter on Fuel cash aid, could we not combine elements from both and present (in the spirit of greater transparency, of course) a "Councillor of the week" selection on these pages.
Any councillor who is "actually lazy or who is not serious" about doing his job or does not have any helpful plans for the future of Jakarta should actually have his wages withdrawn until such time as he proves himself worthwhile of receiving them again. This could perhaps take the form of a readers SMS poll upon publication of proof of worthwhile work done. The proceeds could then go toward providing the poor with cell phones so they could add their voices to the poll, and receive reassuring messages in times of hardship.
Or, how about a "Lazy League" for the councillors with the monthly bottom three getting the sack.
JOHN BEAUMONT, Bogor, West Java