Retirement age
An interesting question was raised during a seminar held by the SMART Center for Resource Development on preparation for pension age through life fulfillment. This was put forward by former chief of the National Police Gen. (ret.) Awaluddin Djamin. He told the seminar that the government should review and extend the official retirement age for civil servants and military officers.
Awaluddin further said that it is the government's own loss, if it forces high-ranking military officers to retire at the age of 55, when they are at the peak of wisdom and have experience which could never be learned in schools. The years that the government has invested in the officers, he added, are consequently wasted. Awaluddin refuses the traditional excuse that later retirement age means fewer positions left for members of the younger generation.
We must admit, maybe partly, that what the general said is true, but it is to be regretted that he failed to give evidence or further explanations that later retirement does not affect new employment for the younger generation; he did not elaborate. It might be true that now there is an increase in life expectancy among Indonesians, but is it justified to extend the retirement age at the cost of the young generation? Moreover it is not always true that the current retirement age means a loss for the government. It can be to the contrary, because there are also unproductive and productive officers and civil servants. The later the retirement for unproductive persons, the bigger the loss for the government.
We all know that there are many unproductive individuals who never performed well, let alone reached their peak of wisdom. The opportunity should be given to the younger generation to start working and replace the older ones so that they can gain working experience as soon as possible.
The idea as proposed by Awaluddin may be carried out by exception only. Those persons with proven ability could be allowed to retire at a later age. However, the government may enhance the general welfare of the pensioners by providing better health care and other social benefits. Also the government can create more social or semi-social institutions or bodies, where pensioners can be kept employed. So hopefully they will not become a burden to society.
To avoid the "post-power syndrome", according to speakers Junus and Hanna, one should be getting closer to God, and accept what life has to offer.
A. HARYONO
Jakarta
A missing alum
In 1953-1954, an Indonesian student enrolled in the College d'Europe, Brugges, Belgium. His name was Ahmad Mugalih. After graduation, many of his friends lost track of him.
Last week a French friend of mine wrote me that the 1953 promotion was planning to hold a 40th anniversary meeting, and he asked me to find Ahmad Mugalih's address--or any information about him.
I would appreciate it very much if any reader of The Jakarta Post can help me in this matter. I can be contacted through Tempo newsmagazine, Kotak Pos 4223/JKT 10042, Jakarta, or Phone: 5200177.
GOENAWAN MOHAMAD
Jakarta
Good manners
Millions know
I'm the teen
Caned for vandalism.
Household name now
All around the world!
Ever dreamed I'd become
Lavishly infamous?!
For all you parents
At least are you listening now?
Yes, groom your kids with noble manners!
A. KRISHNAN
Surabaya, East Java
Beware of electrical products
Recently, I had the need to purchase some electrical extension cables with multi-socket outlets as used by million of people for to connect several electrical appliances and tools to one wall socket outlet.
I bought three identical sets of what appeared to be of good quality and proper design, i.e. the plug was molded to the cable and consisted of the two pins together with the protective earth (PE) contacts. The multi-socket outlet unit at the other end of the cable had the familiar female contacts together with the PE contacts for each socket. An additional switch incorporated in the unit enables the electrical isolation of any consumer connected to it.
What appeared to be a perfectly sound, safe and well- manufactured product to any person and unsuspicious layman, actually turned out to be totally unsafe and a potential killer to anybody who would use it for the purpose it was made for, because the cable connecting plug and socket unit consisted of two conductors only, i.e. the PE contacts at each end of the extension cable were not connected at all.
Anybody using an extension like this is liable to suffer electric shocks, burns, etc., and in the extreme will lose their lives in case of faulty appliances and tools connected to it.
The public is totally unaware of this deadly shortcoming in a product which is sold by reputable shops or stores all over the country.
I strongly advise your readers and anybody else for this matter to be aware of these unsafe products available in the market and possibly in their homes.
Anybody using electrical extension cables should have the same checked immediately by a reliable electrician or electrical engineer whether or not these devices are electrically safe. The check is simple and takes one minute only.
Being an electrical engineer (consultant) involved in the expansion of electrical power within the Republic of Indonesia, I would recommend to the authorities concerned to subject electrical products sold in this country to much stricter controls to protect and ensure the well-being of all the people living within the boundary of the great nation.
WALTER SCHAEFER
Jakarta
RI needs law on anti-discrimination
From Forum Keadilan
Discrimination in its various forms has existed all over the world for centuries, thus the need to enact anti-discrimination laws.
The Australian state of New South Wales has had one in the books since 1977 for example. The law forbids discrimination based on gender, race, religion and financial status.
One good example of the fight against discrimination is South Africa. Although it is hard to remove racial tension in this country, the people of South Africa did away with apartheid. Now the constitution guarantees all citizens the right to live side by side.
In the recent Medan riot, people of Chinese descent have again become a target. This only extends the list of anti-Chinese incidents in the history of Indonesia.
It is obvious that the racial sentiment has blurred the workers' demand: wage increases and welfare improvements. Instead of fulfilling the workers' dream for a better life, such a display created a new tragedy. In the end they were no longer workers demanding their rights, but reduced themselves to rioters.
From such a case we learn that the real goal of the strike was not achieved and both the Chinese descendants and workers have become victims.
Although the existence of a discrimination law is not a guarantee of total protection, it is time for us to consider drafting a discrimination law.
PURWANING W. YANUAR
Sydney, Australia
Parking at Soekarno-Hatta
From Editor
As a driver, I often drive and pick up my boss at Soekarno- Hatta international airport. Being a very disciplined government official, he never allows me to park the car in front of the domestic terminal. So I must park in the parking area.
I have never disobeyed his order, but what annoys me is that there are always many cars parked right in front of the domestic flight gate. Sometimes pedestrians have difficulty crossing the street on their way to the parking area because the cars are parked in three lanes and are too close to each other.
This should not happen because the area is ringed by uniformed guards armed with walky-talkies and batons. The problem is that these timid guards lack the courage to discipline the rogue motorists.
IMAN Z. NOURUZZAMAN
Jakarta