Wastebasket

The dictionary defines a waste basket as a basket or other container for discarded waste materials. But it can also mean a place where you can express your complaints, criticisms, protests, grudges and accusations.

When President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Feb. 12 described her government as a wastebasket she was of course not referring to the first meaning, that is, as a waste disposal container.

Everyone knows that her government inherits difficult problems that were created by the New Order regime, which was severely corrupt, overly bureaucratic and displayed a sycophantic attitude.

Some people believe that whoever had occupied the presidency after Soeharto stepped down would have faced difficulties in governing the country. The fall of B.J.Habibie and Abdurrahman Wahid from the presidency vindicated this belief.

To get rid of the weak bureaucracy, the president has said that bureaucrats should not be desk-bound and not only report good news to their superiors. They should also report bad news, as it is no use to only provide reports of positive developments.

Even so, this is one of the risks facing the government in a situation where the old bureaucracy and style are still dominant. It is natural, therefore, that President Megawati called her government a wastebasket.

But 'wastebasket' doesn't always have negative connotations as people can benefit from processing waste materials.

-- Business Indonesia, Jakarta