'Wastebasket' government

'Wastebasket' government

From Media Indonesia

In her opening speech of the coordination meeting of the
Office of the State Minister of Administrative Reforms on Feb.
11, 2002, President Megawati used the term "A wastebasket
government". For a couple of days some members of the political
elite have been making misinterpretations of its real meaning.

I have noticed that she also used the same term during her
days as Vice President, both casually as well as in official
forums. Today the political elite are giving it more attention as
she is repeating it again in her capacity as the country's
president.

In my interpretation it means that she is managing a basket
that mostly contains waste. This garbage is the legacy she has
inherited from previous governments, mainly the New Order regime.
Her message is very clear: Current government officials should
discontinue being trashy so that the suffering of the people can
soon be alleviated.

WAHYUDI R.

Jakarta