The meaning of national awakening

The meaning of national awakening

From Kompas

May 20 is commemorated annually as National Awakening Day. But what does it mean today and what has the nation achieved? We have directly elected our leaders, whose speeches are mostly mixed with foreign terms.

Indonesian debts are mounting while state assets and enterprises are sold to other countries. Hard working employees are required to pay income tax and house or land purchase is subjected to land & buildings tax. What does the state offer to its citizens?

Tickets have to be bought to pass over smooth roads, educational and health facilities are being privatized, police certificates and identity cards are obtained with payments, so that nearly all kinds of public service costs money.

As good citizens we are only willing to pay taxes as long as they are truly spent on national development and debt repayment instead of corruption. Former development planning minister Kwik Kian Gie might be correct when he said only a third of tax revenue went to the state treasury.

If all tax revenue went into the state coffers, the budget for education could reach 20 percent of the total, and health services could be provided free of charge. Therefore, all tax agencies should purge themselves of dishonest personnel and stop enriching themselves.

SYAIFUL ANWAR Tangerang, Banten