Prevention of national waste
Prevention of national waste
From Panji Masyarakat
The heading of this letter is not meant to incite anger or
bitterness, nor is it politically motivated. It may be
categorized as a form of participation in selecting the best and
wisest prospective assistants to the President, or to open
opportunities for achievements toward the end of the current term
of presidential office.
The habit of waiting until a problem escalates to disastrous
proportions must be stopped immediately. Especially for problems
that can be predicted, monitored, analyzed, evaluated, etc. due
to periodical occurrences. Forest fires, accidents, floods, bank
scams, gambling, prostitution, alcoholism, corruption, collusion
and Indonesian labor abroad belong in this category.
Less than two months from now society will be burdened once
again with the approach of New Year's and Idul Fitri
celebrations. Prices will rise, inflation will become
uncontrollable, crime will increase and national productivity
will drop one week before and one week after Idul Fitri. It is
waste on a national scale.
Related ministries, and parts of the private sector, are now
preparing themselves for events brought on by New Year's and Idul
Fitri festivities. Operations in the market to control prices and
stocks of foodstuffs, operations at critical departure points
like bus and train stations, sea and airports to ensure smooth
transportation, monitoring of monetary matters for control of
inflation.
If the repeated occurrences were seriously studied, the causes
could certainly be discussed with experts. I strongly believe
that although time is short, the problems could be overcome
soonest by campaigning on a national scale by bringing together
ulemas and umara (government officials). They could bring
awareness that good relations are the main pillar of success and
fasting makes the faithful more devout.
So, good relations are an ideal that should be recommended for
every occasion, without waiting for Idul Fitri, the disadvantages
of which are more numerous than the benefits.
Devout people are those who have such foresight that are
prepared the hereafter, not like mere entrepreneurs or planners
whose vision only covers one or two five-year development
periods. The devout are also acutely aware of the balance of the
environment, therefore their zakat, infak (alms and charity) are
right. Let us be aware that even though all our planning may be
complete, we must not fail to ask for God's blessings.
Thus, the initiative of responsible parties would be eagerly
awaited by society and the nation. Thus not only authority, but
power, rights and policies would be conspicuous. There should be
a dominance of obligation and responsibility.
AGUS SOETONO
Jakarta