Unsung efforts of RT/RW chiefs
Unsung efforts of RT/RW chiefs
From Warta Kota
Being a minister, governor, mayor, regent or subdistrict chief
is honorable and entitles you to various privileges. Even more so
if a person becomes a member of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) or the House of Representatives (DPR). They merely
carry out their routine tasks without having to think hard to
achieve something for the people's prosperity. All facilities --
salary, honorarium, office allowance and other extra payments --
are their legitimate right.
So, who has the authority to appraise their work performance?
The home affairs minister should be the most responsible for the
competence of regional government agencies in implementing
regional autonomy.
The governor of Jakarta, for example, has dumped the city's
garbage into other suburban areas of Jakarta (Bogor, Tangerang,
Bekasi) without feeling responsible for the environmental
pollution in those areas.
A wind of change has started to blow through the country's law
enforcement and promised improvements for the people in the
future. Regardless of their position, rank, etc., any official
who has committed wrongdoing while in office should be brought to
court. Take for example, the former minister of cooperatives, as
well as former chairman of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog)
Bustanil Arifin, who has been detained.
Should he escape the legal noose in this world, he will
subsequently face the final judgment hereafter. Therefore, those
currently holding power, starting from the President to the lower
ranks, should work for the people's welfare and not simply for
their own or that of their cronies.
Yet, there are many civilian workers who work sincerely
without expecting something in return, such as chiefs of
neighborhood units (RT/RW). They raise funds all by themselves
and work autonomously. These units are always ready to execute
the government's programs and maintain orderliness in society. Is
it not high time the government appreciated their voluntary work?
ACHMAD SOLIHIN
Bogor, West Java