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.