Sapirin on poverty, Sutiyoso on vanity

Sapirin on poverty, Sutiyoso on vanity

Hera Diani and I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

This is a story of South African diamond and Saripin the taxi
driver.

The South African diamond is the highlight of the Indonesian
International Exhibition on Jewelry, Timepieces, Fine Arts and
Antiques, an event which ended today (Saturday).

The diamond stood out not just because of its size, nearly the
size of a ping-pong ball and weighing 107.35 carats, but also
because of its US$1 million (Rp 9 billion) price tag.

Now, let's compare the value of the brownish-yellow stone to
Saripin's earnings and expenses.

The 58-year-old lean taxi driver described how everything has
become more difficult for him and his family of six children
lately.

Working 15 days a month -- his friend drives the cab for the
other half of the month -- and with an average daily income of Rp
50,000 (around US$5.5), Saripin's monthly income is around Rp 1
million.

"Getting a diamond? What would I do with it? My children need
food and education, not a rock," he smiled.

If he ever became interested in purchasing the diamond, he
would have to allocate all his monthly earnings for the next 750
years.

"If I live that long, the only stone I will ever need
will probably not be a diamond, but a grave stone," he quipped.

There is, however, an alternative way for him to purchase the
precious stone: being elected as the Jakarta Governor or a city
councillor.

The draft of the city's 2003 budget provided the Governor
Rp 937 million to have his speeches drafted, another Rp 100
million for healthcare and Rp 90 million a year for his morning
coffee. The draft also generously proposed a Rp 1 billion
clothing allowance for the city's 85 councillors.

It is just a matter of time before a governor will stand
before his councillors to outline the necessity for a draft on
jewelry allowance. And, since one of the city's agencies has
already applied for a Harley Davidson motorcycle, they might as
well invent a new section in the budget, appropriately named
"vanity expenses".

"But, do you truly believe that those councillors would be
willing to elect a taxi driver as governor?" Saripin
chuckled.