Small examples encourage people

The article in The Jakarta Post, Oct. 15, entitled You are not what you drive: Hidayat, has made me disappointed.

You may be right that the policies adopted by government officials and, of course, their implementation are most essential to introduce improvements in the country, but we, as members of the general public, understand that behavior is far easier to discern than mere words.

We crave examples set by leaders, so that all policies are first reflected in themselves, without profuse speech.

A "small" example of modesty shown by a high ranking official is actually a consolation and encouragement to society. Comfort for policy makers may guarantee "good" policies, but when such policies come from leaders already trying to empathize with society, greater support will be gained.

The Post perhaps considers what Hidayat and his colleagues have proposed as merely symbolic and not substantive. But to us, however small an act of empathy with ordinary people may be, it represents profound compassion that deserves support so as to inspire their empathic policies.

NUR HAFSAH, Jakarta