The late President Sukarno who saw the need to unite a huge and diversified archipalego with different cultures and practices created the Principles of Pancasila. This set of principles provides the platform for unity and justice among all people in Indonesia. However, the Pancasila is being interpreted in many different forms from different groups in Indonesia. These groups are there primarily to serve their self interest and promoting their own agendas even if it clearly contradict the principles of national intergrity, social equality and justice.
Thousands of by-laws have been passed by regional states in Indonesia. There are by-laws for Islamic dress codes and behavior, anti-littering, anti-busking, anti-prostitution; a by-law that banned begging on the streets and making it a criminal offence for anyone who give money to beggars. The regional lawmakers seem to have this strange beliefs that by creating by-laws, all problems will be gone and resolved. If the lawmakers are sincerely keen in resolving pressing issues in their regions, perhaps they should passed the following by-laws:-
1) a by-law to ensure that every child gets an education and proper medical care. There is no excuse for young kids to be roaming the streets begging or picking up usable garbage or selling stuffs. Regional government must ensure that every kid has an opportunity to go to school; irregardless of social status or level of income.
2) a by-law to ensure that the people staying in their region have access to clean water, electricity and affordable medical care.
3) a by-law to tackle corruption practices and red tapes that are rampant especially in the regional government bureaucracy itself.
4) a by-law to actively promote investment and tourism in their region, so that there will be more job opportunities for the people and the creation and support of small micro-businesses for the unemployed and women.
These are just some of the real pressing problems that are facing the people of Indonesia. With soaring fuel and food prices, the poor and even the middle class people are finding that life have become a daily struggle. May I suggest to these regional states lawmakers and officers to get out of their comfortable offices and get in touch with the people on the streets; especially the poor. There are lots of work that needs to be done; and these lawmakers have the burden of responsibility to work for the people.
