Visions of consistency

Visions of consistency
over 'crazy rice'

Kornelius Purba
Jakarta

A few changes so could you read through please? thanks

Father and son were dining on nasi gila (crazy rice, as it is
literally translated) by the Taman Lembang Fountain, in Menteng,
Central Jakarta, when the father seized the moment to demonstrate
his knowledge of politics. He talked as though he were better
than any politician in the country. He told his son that the five
presidential pairings had no vision, and were surrounded by
incompetent people.

Bored with the constant preaching of his father on what a
candidate should ideally offer voters, the son interrupted, "Look
at this food," to the surprise of his father.

"It comprises only baso (meat balls), cheap sausages, kerupuk,
rice, and a slice of boiled egg. But, so many people are crazy
about it. You know why? Because it is affordable yet filling."

The son continued, "Perhaps, bapak will say that lunch at a
hotel is much more delicious. But remember, it is very expensive,
and for many ordinary Indonesians, such luxurious food is too
rich."

The university student then noticed the office of the campaign
team for Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla,
located just in front of the park.

He said Kalla actually also deserved the presidential seat,
because he was perceivably the most consistent, along with
incumbent Vice President Hamzah Haz. Kalla is famous for his
pencil-thin mustache, which apparently requires immaculate
trimming.

"The mustache looks funny to many, but I hear that he styled
it like that in his youth -- that's consistency for you."
exclaimed the son.

And how about Hamzah, the United Development Party's (PPP)
presidential candidate? His strong point, according to the son
was that he was "no hypocrite" He has several wives (although
recently he forgot the exact number...) and is not ashamed. But,
the father avoided his son's eyes.

The moral of this conversation is that the last thing people
want are superfluous promises. They prefer simple programs that
are consistently implemented. People know, no one can completely
eradicate corruption in this country in the short term. In the
words of a senior government official in Aceh on the
implementation of sharia in the province,"If sharia were to be
fully implemented in Aceh, very few officials would have their
hands here."

Perhaps it would be more convincing if the candidates promised
that,"our rank as the world's third most corrupt nation will
decrease to the fifth position within two years."

The next president would only destroy their own future if they
took drastic measures to punish corruptors, because the
corruptors would work together to oust such a leader. What is
needed now is the creation of hot spots through some "shock
therapy". Jail some big-time corruptors within one year to send a
strong message to others, at least to refrain from stealing state
money during the leader's tenure.

People will feel grateful when their next president succeeds
to fulfill their promise to prohibit their family or relatives
from entering business.

People will not believe the promise of a candidate to create
12 million jobs within five years. The country's economic
policies were practically determined by the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) since 1997 until the end of last year. The
current Cabinet's economic team also comprises of genius
economists. People are impatiently awaiting concrete evidence
that their living conditions are improving under President
Megawati Soekarnoputri's leadership.

Nasi gila is simple and affordable and, for ordinary folk, it
always hits the spot. A consistent leader -- the son cites
Kalla's mustache as an example -- who is ready to make public his
real situation -- like Hamzah and his wives -- is much needed by
the country.

Will the next president deliver strange but "real" food to the
people, rather than (empty) promises, or expensive and delicious
fare, which the hungry will not even come close to tasting?

Kornelisu Purba (purba@thejakartapost.com) is a staff writer
of The Jakarta Post.