Proposal to MPR

Proposal to MPR

Starting March 1, 1998, the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR), Indonesia's highest political body, will hold a General
Session to set the State Policy Guidelines and elect a president
and vice president for the 1998/2003 term.

For that purpose, all members (1,000 in all), will be
accommodated in two or three four star and five star hotels in
Jakarta for 15 days and nights. Each member will be allocated one
room.

I (and I believe the majority of the people) do not know how
much funding is provided for the accommodation. But I think a
great deal of money will be spent for this purpose.

As the majority of the people are suffering badly from the
impact of the monetary crisis (soaring prices of basic
commodities, etc.), I think it would be wiser if the honorable
members of the MPR did not spend a great deal of money for their
accommodation.

I would like to give the following suggestions:

* Those members who live or own a house in Jakarta should stay in
their respective homes.

* The members who do not own a house in Jakarta could be
accommodated at Wisma Haji (in Pondok Gede), for the sake of
efficiency, security and smoother coordination. This would show
the public (their voters) and the world that MPR members are
wise. And the money could be donated to the needy in the form of
basic foodstuffs.

DJON W PRANOTO

Sukabumi, West Java