Today
Jakarta
- 31 °C
Other Publications
Presently at Jakarta
Sat, 10/11/2008 11:23 AM | Opinion
I have an account in an Indonesian bank. The value is about Rp 550 million (US$58,000). In the case of a credit crunch, will the Indonesian government guarantee people's savings in banks?
JAMES JOHNSON
Jakarta
McCain link -- Oct. 7, online
Expecting a senior U.S. politician to have cordial foreign affair policies is like expecting an Indonesian police officer or judge to be a public servant. MARK AUSTIN
Virginia
'Laskar Pelangi' -- Sept. 7, p. 14
Yay, it is too late to put a comment.
But better something than nothing.
By the way, I have just read comments from blogs, reviews, news etc. All of them put a hope that the movie would be a messenger of Andrea Hinata's book. Why? Because Indonesians don't read books. It is not a part of our habit. Just make a survey if you don't believe me. A movie is a brilliant idea to deliver the message.
Honestly, I haven't read the book, but I will. I believe most Indonesians love to watch movies and local TV series. If we can't educate them in school or ask them to read for an hour a day, why don't we use TV or a movie to educate our society?
Our ancestors use legends, myths and wayang to deliver the message. Why don't we use the same way? I believe this movie is a milestone as it uses the media not only for entertainment or money. Beyond that we can do many things with it. CHANDRA W. SETIAWAN
Jakarta
New police chief -- Oct. 3, p. 2
For more than three centuries our nation's minds were so ruined by the colonialism brought by the Dutch. They screwed all aspects of the life of our nation with the mentality of bribery and corruption they implemented to fulfill their goal of devide at impera (divide and rule). Added to this was the pressured life under more than 30 years of Soeharto's era.
What do we expect? As no one had enough nerve to change the Criminal Code (KUHP). The past ten years was not bad at all for the police department to prove their improvement.
Failure of course happened here and there, but their strong determination to change has shown enough.
Keep doing good work, Pak Bambang. We'll be your witnesses. FIRDAUS ALMA
Kuala Lumpur
Drugs for virility -- Oct. 7, p. 7
For a moment I thought he was talking about tobacco which is a drug widely promoted in this country for boosting male virility. I don't know whether or not cigarettes contain sildenafil (they contain about 4000 other nasty substances) but I certainly agree that everyone should be careful and avoid smoking without consulting the medical profession.
Well, they could save their money on a consultation because every qualified and decent physician would say, "Don't do it! Besides killing you or destroying your blood supply so that your legs have to be cut off, your lungs removed or you become impotent, most women prefer nonsmokers. They taste and smell a lot better. The maids who have to clean your clothes and houses would agree. Smokers and smoking stinks." RAFIQ MAHMOOD
Bogor
Taiwanese smuggling drugs -- Oct. 5, online
Indonesia has the death penalty for drugs, and yet these people still attempt to smuggle drugs into the country. Is the money they make smuggling the drugs worth risking and gambling their lives?
I wish a drug smuggler could answer me.
The only conclusion I can come to is that a lot of people get through the airports with the drugs, and collude with corrupt officials, that's why they take so many chances.
The government should start investigating police members. I think that would bring down the drug problem. And more executions for drug dealers should be carried out. As stated at Soekarno Hatta Airport, "Death Penalty to drug dealers". AHMED
Jakarta
Tourist numbers -- Sept. 9, p. 13
Just go back to the old visa system - free, like many other Southeast Asian countries. That would bring in more tourists. WOLFIE
Jakarta
Pornographic bill -- Oct. 7, p.7
In my view, many supporters of the so-called Pornography Bill have legitimate prejudices against pornography; perhaps from a religious or prudish perspective. However, if the bill was more preciesly renamed "The Anti-Tourism, Anti-Art and Anti-Women Bill", the numbers of adherents would sharply decline. T. COTTON
Pattaya, Thailand
City, turn to trees -- Oct. 7, p. 5
It truly gives hope for the nation to read such stories. Why oh why is it so hard for those in positions of authority to do something like this on a much larger scale? I will definitely visit and give all the support I can. It really does deserve more than a short comment in The Jakarta Post. Dear editor, please do a big story, even a campaign on this, because it is so very important. Let the nation know that this is the future for all Indonesia's children. Its the only way they can have a decent, healthy life. MIKE
Batam, Riau Islands
