Letter: Please, wake us when you're done

Mon, 04/21/2008 10:36 AM  |  Reader's Forum

I totally agree with the commentary on SBY (The Jakarta Post, April 15, p. 2.).

He is a decent gentleman, a good loyal hubby (maybe), but when he made a speech -- I only saw it on TV though -- but what a boring speech!

The same old song, and the same English terms. Is there no one to tell him? Is everyone in the Palace asleep? He speaks again and again of the 'rakyat' (people): "I sleep less because I am thinking about you, the people".

But maybe he's forgetting many must queue for hours on end just to buy five liters of kerosene.

And we also have a new term for rice, 'raskin' (rice for the poor). The government is donating a certain amount of money to the poor. Such a policy makes them beggars. An old proverb says "Give a fishing rod, not the fish".

A friend of mine from the U.S., visited Jakarta last March. She used to live in Jakarta during Sukarno's rule, accompanying her husband who worked at the U.S. Embassy.

"Didn't you do the same thing; queue for rice, oil and others at that time?" she asked.

"Yes, we did," I answered.

Many are now in the same condition -- poor like in the 1960s. But now, there is a big gap between the rich and poor because our 'leaders' are just thinking about themselves.

Salaries of members of the House of Representatives reach Rp 40 million (US$9,200) a month, while others must sweat it out just to make Rp 5 million -- tops.

Ministers and bureaucrats are spoiled with tax payers' money, free accommodation, free electricity, telephone, etc. etc.

I hope SBY's advisers tell him not to make these lullaby speeches so often.

TOETI KAKIAILATU
Jakarta

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