'What is the Annual Session for?'

The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Annual Session happens only once a year, an event which state officials, politicians and some people believe is important. However, most people, especially those at the grassroots level, believe both the session and the Assembly members are useless.

M. Chandra, 17, is a student at state-high school SMU 4 in Gambir, Central Jakarta. He lives in Menteng:

What is the real goal of the reforms? It moves nowhere and the people's representatives don't represent the people's aspirations at all. I don't feel they are my representatives either.

The Annual Session is meaningless. It's just a waste of money. Money is more powerful now than the real needs of the people. The legislators there are made mute with money. I don't even see the function of the legislators.

I am of the opinion that if the leaders and legislators continue to fight for power, the result is nothing.

Above all, it'd be better for me to think about my own education rather than wasting my time thinking of the inactive people's representatives.

We don't bother their own political interests and we have our own interests as students. It's their own business, not mine.

Sutrisno, 27, is a mobile salesman who has been selling construction materials for four years. He comes from Klaten, Central Java, is still single and lives by himself in Kalimalang, East Jakarta:

I didn't know the Annual Session was on. I don't know what it is for. It is beyond my knowledge. Would you just ask me how to earn money because it's an easy and real question for me?

I prefer thinking of how to live rather than thinking about the session. My life is much more difficult.

I don't know either, whether the session is useful or useless. So long as the prices of basic needs are affordable for most people, the Annual Session works out well. But if the prices remain exorbitant, the session is useless.

Suleman, 34, sells rat poison in Matraman traditional market in East Jakarta. He was divorced two years ago and has since lived on Jl. Bunga, Matraman by himself. He has owned his business since he was 18-years old:

I realize that there are some people's representatives. But I don't see that they are the representatives of the ordinary people.

The Annual Session is not necessarily resolving the current problems. It even worsens the situation, if I may say. There is no longer communal and tolerant cooperation but only alienated competition for power.

The government is only driven by its ambition to dominate its people while on the other hand oppress the people's interests.

Worse still, low income people like us can only watch and can do nothing to help. So, I prefer turning off my TV as soon as it broadcasts the session. It's just useless.

Hartono, 30, has been a bajaj (three-wheeled motorized vehicle) driver for 10 years. He is single and lives on Jl. Bendungan, East Jakarta. He is from Cirebon, West Jakarta:

I agree that they (Assembly members) are the people's representatives because I feel they side with ordinary people like me.

I said so because I remember when a number of legislators and party leaders came and gave donations when I was homeless and miserable. My house burned down last month.

The Annual Session in my opinion is necessary to promote the future of the country and its people.

But, I hope the leaders of the country do not use their positions to benefit themselves. Once they play in competition for power, things will be chaotic.

I wish they could help make the people's lives more enjoyable.

-- Leo Wahyudi S