Public misery

Public misery

From Pikiran Rakyat

The Megawati administration is no different from the previous government. It has acted repressively and shown no care for public misery. Senior officials, from both the executive and legislative institutions, have been paid handsomely to prevent them from practicing corruption, collusion and nepotism, but the facts show that these practices remain rife. They no longer have a conscience about the misery inflicted on people at the grass- roots. They don't care that nearly 40 million people are jobless.

The hike in fuel prices and electricity rates have really kept those people at the grass-roots trapped in poverty, particularly those who have become jobless due to layoffs. The middle and upper class, in particular senior government officials who earn millions of rupiah and enjoy various facilities, do not really feel the impact of the multi-faceted crisis that is hitting the country. They forget that only some people are paid salaries.

As a consequence, the poverty rate has been on the increase. People's purchasing power has continued to weaken. People are really fed up, tired and weary. We are all now waiting for real action to be taken by all levels of state officials in the public interest. Of course, their contribution will be recorded in the country's history.

DARMAWAN SUSILO

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