Political elite traveling abroad

Political elite traveling abroad

From Warta Kota

As a layman in political matters I can only feel annoyingly amazed at the behavior demonstrated by our political elite in the government at the central and regional levels. It is reported in the media that councillors and officials of the Jakarta provincial administration have often been subject to criticism by the press, activists and observers.

They have been criticized because they have made foreign trips whose benefits are questionable. Criticism has also been leveled at them because they have signed fictitious letters regarding their trips and sent memos to a number of government agencies. Besides, the Jakarta administration has allegedly included a lot of fictitious items in its 2001 budget and just like the members of the regional legislature, officials of the Jakarta administration have also made trips abroad.

Now there is a new report that 51 members of the standing committee of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) are waiting for their turn to go abroad, purportedly to discuss the results of the 2000 annual session of the MPR. As many as 39 legislators have just returned from their foreign trips and have spent a total of Rp 5 billion for this purpose.

We know that President Abdurrahman Wahid has made many a foreign trip, but now there are reports that five ministers and the Vice President will also travel abroad.

I can only pray that all these foreign trips will bear fruit, as otherwise the trips are tantamount to a betrayal of millions of people.

BAMBANG SUHERMAN

Jakarta