'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