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