Resigning and Indonesian culture

From Tempo

Former Japanese prime minister Morihiro Hosokawa resigned from office because of alleged corruption in the actions of his staff 20 years ago. I am convinced he is a gentleman and I really admire him.

Resigning because of a fault is a good action, regardless of one's culture, western or otherwise, and I think Indonesians should try to learn from this behavior. Indeed, only those who have a high level of morality, dignity and responsibility are able to take such actions.

The government does not seem to be ashamed to borrow a lot of money and technology from rich countries which are usually western countries, so why should the top officials be embarrassed to adopt cultural traits from outside as well?

As a matter of fact, resigning is not a foreign concept in this country. If we turn the page of our nation's history, we will find that our ancestors and some recent Indonesian leaders such as the late first vice presidents, Mohammad Hatta and Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, and former deputy of the Armed Forces, Gen. (ret) Sumitro, resigned from their jobs because of their sense of responsibility over having failed to do their duty.

It is important to make resignations a popular deed among the people just as we do the state ideology Pancasila: exploring and reflecting it before translating it into a training program (P4 courses).

Resigning is a moral value which should be included into the P4 principles, so that the younger generation can learn how to have a sense of responsibility, dignity and a sense of guilt.

Resigning is not a cowardly action, but a reflection of responsibility. On the contrary, the tenacity to cling on power is a dishonorable attitude.

H. ATLIS ILYAS

Medan, N. Sumatra