Wasted flags

Wasted flags

It was surprising to learn that the Jakarta city
administration allocated Rp 2 billion (US$231,000) for the
purchase and raising of 5,400 campaign flags (Parties' flags to
start flying, The Jakarta Post, April 26, 1999). The cost per
flag works out to US$42.78.

Presumably the flags will be discarded at the end of the
campaign period and, hopefully, not flown again for another five
years.

Perhaps the administration could approach the 48 political
parties on whose behalf the flags are being purchased and inquire
whether the funds might be better used to alleviate the effects
of the economic crisis on Jakarta's less fortunate potential
voters.

If past campaigns are anything to go by, ardent campaigners
seem quite prepared to do their own flag waving.

NICK WILSON

Jakarta