Presidental office budget

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he was "surprised" to read in the media that his government had formally proposed to the legislature a sharp increase in the 2006 budget of his office.

This news would have been funny had it not been so depressing. At the risk of being contrite, maybe we can learn from this quote from the good book (I Corinthians 14:8): "For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for the battle?"

In other words, if leaders cannot, or will not lead, they will run out of followers very soon.

HIDAYAT JATI Jakarta