Stop hunting for dollars!

Stop hunting for dollars!

From Media Indonesia

The country's media report daily on the changes in U.S. dollar exchange rates against the rupiah. They also show photographs and scenes where people exchange rupiah for dollars. From day to day things do not get better. The situation has reached a state of hysteria.

Nearly the whole community, which had been quiet before, has joined in the panic. The rate of the dollar against the rupiah has risen to frenzy, maybe as a result of media reports.

An article written by economist Kwik Kian Gie, who has advised on holding on to our rupiah, has remained unheeded. Must the situation continue like this? Certainly not. It is necessary that the community becomes calm again. It is the responsibility of us all.

In this context I would like to suggest that all media stop their reports on dollar rates and the hunting for currency. It is time for the media to unite to calm the lay community. We live and die in Indonesia. Let us show our love for our country by changing our dollars, if we have any, to rupiah.

Long live the rupiah. Long live Indonesia!

ALEX KURNIAWAN

Jakarta