On moral reform

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