Speaking as you wish
Speaking as you wish
From Bisnis Indonesia
The correction made by President Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur, to his statement concerning the biang kerok (masterminds) of the unrest, once more indicates that there is a necessity for the President to control his tongue.
As the head of the government, it is only normal for Abdurrahman to convey issues to the people, however, not all issues or what Abdurrahman knows should be passed on to the general public just as he wishes.
Abdurrahman ought to have realized that his statement would set a standard as well as a directive for many parties. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that the moment Abdurrahman made an issue about members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the House of Representatives (DPR) to be questioned or arrested, the rupiah fell headlong and the stock exchange index followed suit.
If the rupiah continues to weaken, then the strength of the economy will also weaken, and the risk of unrest to occur will become greater. Who will suffer if things develop like this? No doubt, the public will. Whenever the political elite are involved in conflicts, the public suffers. Until what point will they have to suffer?
The President, therefore, should be prudent when he has to speak. He should not speak as he wishes! Even in countries such as the United States or the United Kingdom, the president/prime minister is careful when he speaks to the public, let alone when it comes to sensitive issues. The accusations made of the persons acting as the mastermind or agents of the current unrest was obviously a sensitive issue.
Perhaps it would be better if whatever Abdurrahman wishes to convey is put in the form of a written address so that it is as clear as black and white should people wish to claim whether or not the public's perception of what he has passed on is correct.
To be frank, with Abdurrahman's habit of correcting what he says, he is having less of an authoritative influence in the eyes of the people.
SUTANTO HAKIM
Jakarta