Thank you, Urbaningrum

Exemplary behavior is a very expensive thing in this country. Expensive, because virtue has turned into wickedness and wickedness has come to be accepted as a good habit.

But amid the crisis in exemplary behavior, a son of the nation, Anas Urbaningrum, a member of the General Elections Commission (KPU), surprised everybody by returning his newly acquired office car to the state because he could not stand the public criticism of the KPU's action in buying brand new cars for its members.

The other KPU members have yet to follow Anas' example; it could be they consider receiving a new car as nothing unusual and in the interests of their work and safety.

Why has the KPU's action in purchasing new cars for its members aroused public criticism? One reason is that Indonesia is still experiencing a financial crisis that requires all state organs to operate at maximum efficiency.

Another is that KPU members still have perfectly serviceable cars, while they, as intellectuals, have called on the government to show a "sense of crisis".

The greatest problem this nation faces is indeed the lack of a sense of crisis. We therefore praise Anas for his resolute action, although his decision to return also his old car and henceforth take a public bus to commute between his home and office, and even to work without a salary, has created the impression he has acted out of spite.

However, he still deserves our thumbs-up. We would advise him to continue to use his old car, a Soluna, with a clear conscience.

If the Soluna needs maintenance or repair, the cost should be charged to the KPU budget. He should also continue to accept his salary as a rightful reward for all the energy, devotion and skills he is putting into his work. -- Media Indonesia, Jakarta