RI saga: Rich man, poor man

RI saga: Rich man, poor man

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

There is more to Harun Alrasyid than a man with expertise in
constitutional law and his distinguished high-pitched voice.

Unless the former member of the General Election Commission
(KPU) is a schizophrenic who leads a double life, Harun deserves
some respect for leading a thrifty lifestyle, for example, he
takes public transportation everywhere he goes.

He once even returned a car the Commission provided for him.
(The commission provided all its members with cars).

Harun's case, however, is an anomaly among civil servants and
legislators.

Despite recent calls from President Megawati Soekarnoputri for
the public to adopt a thrifty lifestyle, reality shows otherwise
with most officials and other people with money.

For instance, while thousands of people protest against recent
utility price hikes, an exhibition of jewelry and fine arts is
going on this weekend, displaying a US$1 million diamond and rare
paintings, just to name a couple of items on display.

The president's call for a frugal lifestyle should also be
directed at Megawati and her subordinates who continue to
shamelessly lead luxurious lifestyles, and even expect the
taxpayers to pay for it.

One recent example is the proposed budget from Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso to the City Council, where he has a line item
valued at Rp 3.5 billion (US$388,890) for Harley Davidson
motorcycles.

The allotment for the budget is also ridiculous, with the
allocation of Rp 90 million a year for the governor's "morning
coffee" and Rp 100 million for his health allowance.

There are also allocations of Rp 1 billion for councillors'
clothes and Rp 42 billion for an salaries and transportation for
city councillors (approximately Rp 41 million a month per
councillor).

Such facts evoke a feeling of injustice among most people. For
many, even those who come from the middle class, Megawati's
recent call to live simply shows her insensitivity toward the
plight of the public in general.

"It's further proof that Ibu President doesn't really
understand how the people are suffering. Her plea is redundant
for people like me, because even without it we have tightened our
belts as much as we possibly could," said a woman named
Valentina, who is in her 30s.

She also pointed out how the President herself did not
practice a modest lifestyle, citing the Rp 300 million birthday
party for husband Taufik Kiemas in Bali.

Social psychologist with the University of Indonesia Drajat
Sumitro said that the desire by the recently rich to shamelessly
flaunt their wealth was a reflection of the growing public
insensitivity.

"It is also a sign of the declining social responsibility amid
the prevailing uncertainty," he said.

The prolonged crisis, which has shown no signs of improvement
also has caused the public to lose hope for a "normal" life and
become apathetic with the uncertain conditions facing the
country.

"Everyone, whether they are rich or poor, try hard to cope
with the uncertain conditions in their own way. This struggle has
lessened the sense of social responsibility and sensitivity
toward the other members of society.

"They just go on with their own life and ignore others,
especially those who are less fortunate or have nothing to do
with them. Apart from being insensitive, rich people want to be
seen as powerful as well," Drajat said.

This social insensitivity has further been nourished by the
fact that flaunting one's status is highly valued by the society,
said sociologist Ery Seda from the University of Indonesia.

"We can see that it has become the mentality of local rich
people. A luxurious lifestyle has become a must for them. That's
why it is difficult to adopt thrifty lifestyles," Ery Seda said,
explaining the reason why calls for modesty were hard to adopt.

And status symbols, she added, had led to a distortion of
social values, motivating the public to get richer no matter what
it takes.

"And since the president's call for simplicity is not in
harmony with the social values, I'm afraid it is just empty
rhetoric because it will not be internalized," Ery said.

Both Drajat and Ery stressed the importance of providing good
formal and informal education at home, school and elsewhere in
society, especially through the media to instill the importance
of living economically, even without the crisis.

Parents, teachers, society leaders and media, Ery added, also
needed to put an emphasis on honesty, humanity, empathy and hard
work, in hopes that those values can become part of mainstream
culture among the country's next generations.

"It's deploring to watch the public being bombarded by the
media with the vanity or lavish lifestyles of leaders, elite
people or celebrities, when those same people should be setting
an example of modesty," Ery said.