Resigning and Indonesian culture

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