Restoring the people's trust in government

Restoring the people's trust in government

By Mochtar Buchori

JAKARTA (JP): Recent statements made by government officials
have been received as abrasive and offensive. A statement
regarding the revival of the Darul Islam movement in West Java
caused considerable public anger and rage in Tasikmalaya.
Statements implying clandestine PKI operations have caused
widespread cynicism and dismay. And statements that there is now
peaceful coexistence between followers of different religions
have puzzled many.

The latest statement to rankle regarded the readiness of the
public to pay the exorbitant prices demanded by bus operators
during Lebaran. Many complained that the surcharge they had to
pay was much higher than the one announced by the government.

In response, several government officials blamed the public
for not reporting the violations to government functionaries
stationed at bus terminals to oversee the practices of bus
operators.

The government cannot take measures unless the violations are
reported officially. The minister of transportation blamed the
public for not filing any official complaints. He added that, in
his view, Indonesians had reached a level of prosperity that
people should pay the higher fares, regardless of how much they
were increased. This comment upset many, especially those
dependent on buses to get them home for their yearly Lebaran
visit.

In the Feb. 8 edition of Kompas, one bus passenger said:
"Yesterday on television we heard the minister saying that [we]
Indonesians are now quite well-to-do, and that this is why we
should just pay the prices demanded by bus operators. In my
opinion, this is not true. I wonder if those high-ranking
government officials have any knowledge about the real problems
behind the mass transportation chaos during the holidays. Don't
they realize that Lebaran cannot be postponed?"

Another passenger commented that the question of bus fares was
less an issue than getting a bus seat and getting to one's
destination as quickly as possible. "Is it worth arguing about
bus fares? If we keep haggling, I am afraid the bus will just
leave without us. We don't care what the bus operators charge,
the only thing that matters is that we get to where we want to
be."

Another passenger added: "We resign ourselves to the fact that
we are little people who cannot do anything in this case. There
is only one thing that matters to us and that is to go home.
Government officials talk but they will never have the slightest
idea how people like us suffer."

What do these comments mean? In my opinion they denote two
things. First, these "little people" were offended by the
assumption that paying higher bus fares indicated greater
affluence. Calling people who consider themselves poor "quite
well-to-do" is an insult and a serious affront to their sense of
self-respect. The statements were regarded as signs of government
insensitivity and indifference.

Secondly, such statements erode these people's trust in
government officials. They do not believe that government
officials will ever understand their aspirations and consequently
do not believe that government officials will do anything to
improve their daily lives.

The same perception was also implied in an appeal made by Emha
Ainun Nadjib, who two months ago urged government officials to
use krama inggil (very polite) language whenever addressing the
public.

Within the Javanese language there are three levels: the ngoko
(low or rough) level used to address one's equals or others
below; the krama (polite) level used to address someone for whom
one has respect; and the krama inggil (very polite) level used to
address someone of a much higher status.

In my opinion, Emha meant to say that government officials
should show respect for the public, not just shout and bark
orders. Talk to them in a humane manner. "Little people" have
feelings and can also be offended. Emha's statement was a
reminder that governing is not merely commanding.

Why did the renown poet and essayist make this statement? My
guess is that he must have been moved by the "sub-human"
treatment -- in which laws, regulations, and other norms of
decency are discarded by government officials -- to which the
common people are subjected. He may have been moved by the
situations that have made the common people lose trust in and
respect for government officials.

The situation is harmful and makes the smooth running of
society impossible. If we want to reduce the tensions that exist
in our society today, public trust in the government must be
restored.

The writer is an observer of social and cultural affairs.