Last Wednesday, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter Scale devastated the capital town of West Sumatera Padang and the town of Pariaman, causing hundreds of people killed and missing and injuring many others. Hundreds of houses, office, school, other public utility buildings collapsed.Last Thursday another earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter Scale rocked the province of Jambi.In order to handle this disasters, the central government has allocated an emergency fund of Rp. 100 billion.
This morning, various TV stations reported that Indonesian and foreign rescue teams are still looking for survivors who are trapped under the wreckage of buildings or landslides.
While Indonesians mourn over the impact of the earthquakes in both provinces, a glamorous event took place at the capital city Jakarta last Thursday i.e. induction of the new members of Parliament consisting of 560 members of People's Representative Council (DPR) and 132 members of Regional Representative Council (DPD). Although the induction ceremony takes only several hours however according to Kompas the cost is as high as Rp. 46 Billion.
Considering that the Parliament (DPR & DPD) are permanent institutions, I felt that the costs for induction of their members should not be very high, especially now that Indonesia is facing the earthquakes and the economy is still recovering from the impact of global financial crisis.
I hope that the new members of Parliament will do their very best to serve the interests of the Indonesian people, and do not follow the decadent behaviors of some of their predecessors.
Photos: Courtesy of Kompas.
12 comments:
so sad our bro and sist in there. and more than that in they sadness, our parliament act like that, so people wanna ask, whre is the promised that they told us( bullshit or what). I hope they (parliament) realized they job.
Lia,
It is very sad indeed.
Let's hope that the new Parliament would be more people oriented.
Harry...
I thought the earthquakes occurred because SBY is an unlucky fella in the sense his birth date numbers are unlucky (or something)...
The parliament? Mate, I know how you have high hopes for SBY's second term and all, but you have seen the happy snappy of 'em sleeping on the job already, right? It is like, what, 72 hours into their term :D
Enjoy your week.
Rob,
I never thought that you believe in superstition he he he he ....
Re: SBY and the parliament, I believe that everyone should be given a chance to perform for a certain period of time, at least 1 year. During that time citizens should keep on reminding them about their campaign promises and obligations.
At this moment it is too early to complain/protest.
Members of the Parliament should be more responsible instead of just sitting there and smoking their asses off...but that's just my opinion
Samuel,
You are right, as a matter of fact some of them even slept during meeting session.
Natural disasters have brought grief to all .. deaths may be fun in nature there, and his family were given patience
SaungWeb,
Let's hope that their family be give strength
To connect the event to the earthquakes seems unfair as it would have been planned well in advance but I agree that a certain amount of austerity in public life is needed now to show the good intent of the government, and the ruling elite, that they are finally accepting that they are at one with their electorate.
Duckham,
Precisely, as representatives of the people, members of parliament should work work & live not very different from the people who are mostly poor.
Not exactly on subject but just found this in the Guardian from the UK:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/09/indonesian-earthquake-survivor-saws-leg
Some of the things people have had to do to survive are truly awe inspiring. I wonder if the powerful who can make so much difference to the lives of ordinary people, one way or the other, would have the same courage if challenged in the same way?
Duckham,
Thanks for the information. I'll check it out.
Re: the powerful in facing challenge
I doubt they would reacted the same way as the poor ones, only a few perhaps.
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