'RCTI' surprise money

'RCTI' surprise money

From Republika

On Sundays at 5:30 p.m., RCTI airs its reality show Uang Kaget
(Surprise Money), in which a (poor) person is given Rp 10 million
from Easy Money (hosted by Helmi Yahya) that he or she must spend
in 30 minutes. Any amount not spent must be returned to the host.

In the program on Sept. 26, Udin, a bicycle taxi driver, was
the recipient of the money and hurriedly bought consumer goods
like a TV set, VCD player, gold necklace, cellular phone and
cigarettes.

As a show about how a person with uncertain income is taken by
surprise, it may be entertaining. But I feel disturbed because if
Easy Money wishes to distribute money to the needy, it should do
so without making fun of the poor.

In addition, the Rp 10 million given to Udin, for example,
could have more properly served as working capital, instead of
being used for a shopping spree.

ABDUL MANAF
Bogor, West Java