'We have our share of malnutrition cases'

Non-governmental organizations have pointed out that the government's poverty eradication program is not sustainable, a condition believed to be contributing to the high number of malnutrition cases in the country. The Jakarta Post asked residents of the capital to comment on the issue.

Zaky Mahendra Putra, 26, is an employee of a printing company in Central Jakarta. He lives in a rented house in Depok, West Java.

The high incidence of malnutrition among children in the capital shows that we are become more and more selfish. We tend to ignore that our neighbors are in deep trouble. Does it even cross our minds that they may have nothing to eat?

Should it come as any surprise when cases of chronic undernourishment are reported? To be honest, we are not sensitive to our surroundings. If we were, then children would not be going hungry.

I believe that it takes months, years even, before a child becomes chronically undernourished.

Of course, the government should be held responsible, but our participation as citizens is also vital.

Nina, 34, is an employee of a consultancy firm in Central Jakarta. She lives with her husband and children in Cibubur, East Jakarta.

This is not a new thing. Look at the number of scavengers and beggars in the capital. There are unhealthy-looking people all over the city. The rich are getting fatter while poor children are underfed.

If the government wants to rid malnutrition from the country then it must employ new strategies.

Right now, although they say there are numerous assistance programs for the underprivileged, we don't see any in action. That is, except for some one-off events that are designed to boost officials' popularity.

The Jakarta Post