On moral reform

Thank you very much for reprinting the letter by Mr. Kuswoyo from Sinar Pagi, Moral reform needed (The Jakarta Post, May 17, 2001). Mr. Kuswoyo deserves our thanks for revealing what is the least mentioned, but undoubtedly the most fundamental requirement for Indonesian society and government today: "Moral values must be reformed immediately".

The present reform movement does not go deep enough. It is superficial because it never touches the root problem: men's hearts. New political parties can come to power, or be replaced by newer ones, but the same malpractice -- corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) -- continue, and will continue unless a real moral reform takes place.

But how can moral values be reformed when Indonesia's senior religious and political leaders and teachers are also happy to practice KKN? Unfortunately, Mr. Kuswoyo offers no suggestions as to how Indonesian moral values be reformed. Neither do we find much help from Vice President Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri's little booklet: Pesan Moral (Moral Message).

While she correctly points out that the present economic mess is inherited from Soeharto's era, she does not go deep enough to reveal the common, foundational problem as Mr. Kuswoyo has. Neither have I heard Mr. Amien Rais emphasize the need to dig so deep as to touch the moral foundations of his society.

But how can a building stand under stress if its foundations are faulty? And how can this fledgling democracy endure if its foundations remain weak? In times of crisis it will always waiver and eventually fall. A study of democracies of the West reveal that the foundation of the nation which stands must be built, either directly or indirectly, upon the strongest foundation stones available, and held together with the best mortar. The strongest foundation stones include law, order, and justice for all. The law of a true democracy must, at least, resemble the divine law given to man. No counterfeit will suffice.

FRANK DANIEL ADAMS

Jakarta