Results of MPR General Session
Results of MPR General Session
From Neraca
The present General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) differs from previous sessions because it has convened amid concern over all areas of the country's affairs. Not only is the economic crisis giving cause for concern, but there is a more serious crisis of confidence in the government.
Amazingly, the cost of the 11 day MPR General Sessions is said to exceed Rp 40 billion. Determining the fate of the nation and the state are bound to incur a cost, but the size of the sum spent has given rise to further skepticism among an electorate who already have doubts about the government's ability to manage the crisis.
These doubts are reflected in foreign exchange trade. During the initial days of the Session, the rupiah-dollar exchange rate fell from Rp 8,800 to Rp 10,300. Then, a few days ago it crashed through Rp 12,000 to the U.S. dollar.
Meanwhile, TVRI's coverage of the MPR Session clearly showed legislators chatting among themselves, calmly reading newspapers and, worse still, sleeping.
Connecting the above points, the cost of the event and the activities of the members, it stands to reason that the community has become skeptical. It is logical that people who are experiencing difficulties in meeting their everyday needs see the activities as wasteful.
They may feel that if the money were used to subsidize staple foods, it would help solve the problem of meeting their daily needs amid rapidly rising prices.
The attraction of the 1998 MPR Sessions for the community at large is not the Session program. People eagerly await the results of the Session so that their daily lives can return to normal.
However, many people are not convinced that conclusion of the General Session will solve their problems in an effective way.
The media have recently reported that the next tranche of IMF aid will be delayed until after the line-up of the new cabinet becomes known. If the choice of cabinet ministers is not right, in the sense that it does not follow the adage of "the right man in the right place", and the aid is withheld, it will only prolong the crisis and destroy the people's hope.
SUMARSONO
Jakarta