“Watch your mouth”, parents often tell their children, but they might be forgiven for wishing they did not to have to extend that same admonishment to the leaders of the nation.

However, recent outbursts by politicians and public figures on national television have suggested that some of the country’s influential leaders might benefit from having bars of soap placed in their mouths.

In a recent broadcast, a prominent lawyer told an Indonesian ambassador that he was a liar, prompting the ambassador to swear to God that he was willing to die if he was found to be lying.

“You are a liar!” O.C. Kaligis said loudly to Indonesian Ambassador to Colombia Michael Menufandu during a live interview on TVOne.

The lawyer claimed that the ambassador had not been honest with him when discussing about his client, corruption suspect Nazaruddin, who was apprehended by Columbian police while hiding in the South American nation.

The ambassador was quickly put on the back foot again, as Kaligis continued to bombard him with insults.

House of Representatives member Ruhut Sitompul branded his colleague Gayus Lumbuun as a bangsat (bastard) in a heated debate at the House that was being broadcast live by a private television station.

“I am extremely disappointed. As public figures they are spearheading the nation; they are part of their environment and speak on behalf of Indonesia,” said Mien R. Uno, the author of the best-selling book Etiket (Etiquette) and a renowned advocate of social manners.

In a conversation with The Jakarta Post on Wednesday, Mien described political elites who did not behave properly in public as lacking self-respect.

“They [the elites] must always realize that they are expected to act as role models in society,” he said.

Mien praised President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as a leader who had always been well mannered, although many people had written off that approach as ineffective and unpopular.

“People already have their own mind-set, so whatever Pak SBY says, they will always say he is wrong,” the mother of young businessman Sandiaga Uno said.

Separately, Kaligis defended his attitude. “I am saying that because there is a background story, he said I lied to him for the first time, I was there at the location [in Colombia], and I saw it myself that [Menufandu] was reluctant to see Nazaruddin,” Kaligis said.

Nazarrudin will stand trial for his role in a bribery scandal that rocked the nation a few months ago.

Separately, Eva Kusuma Sundari, a lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said that Indonesian legislators often displayed poor etiquette mainly because there “are no fixed rules and procedures on etiquette and there is no punishment and reward mechanism”.

“But I do not blame Kaligis; as long as he can prove his accusation,” Eva said.

Television presenter Tommy Tjokro said that nowadays people were free to be outspoken on air. However, he also said that in a broader sense, the media had the responsibility to educate the public and deliver the facts. (rpt)

Popular

1.5-year sentence for sandals thief sparks corruption debate

Japan to export used destroyers to Philippines to deter China

Can Europe and China forge a climate connection?