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A motorcycle on the turnpike isn't right, Mr. President!
(The Jakarta Post Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)from THE JAKARTA POST -- TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2006 -- PAGE 2 President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was racing against time Sunday to get to the Indonesian A1 Grand Prix in Sentul. Because the Jagorawi turnpike was severely congested, the President left First Lady Kristiani Herawati alone in the presidential bulletproof limousine and jumped on the back of the motorcycle of a member of the presidential security detail
Several Jakarta newspapers carried on their front pages Monday the picture of the President, taken by his personal photographer Abror Rizki, holding on to the tense-looking motorcyclist
What must the hundreds, if not thousands, of people suffering in the heat on the turnpike thought seeing the President jump on a motorcycle to beat the traffic? They must have realized being president comes with privileges
The President himself was evidently satisfied with the speed with which he reached the venue, allowing him to address the crowd there. "It (the traffic congestion) couldn't stop me from opening and watching the A1 GP because this is our chance to show our country to the world," Yudhoyono said in his speech
No doubt President Yudhoyono, along with the other 40,000 spectators, was a little disappointed Indonesian racer Ananda Mikola could only manage a 14th place finish in the main race
Right or wrong, my boss! Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng demonstrated that sort of loyalty when he defended his boss' decision to take the motorcycle. Emphasizing the President wore a helmet like a law- abiding citizen, Andi added, "A motorcycle seemed to be the only way to get there on time ...." Andi, however, forgot that as a law-abiding citizen, the President should follow all traffic regulations: Riding a motorcycle on the turnpike is a violation of traffic laws. His guards can ride motorcycles on the turnpike when they escort him, but not with the President as a passenger! It is true that in practice the regulation is often violated. Harley- Davidson clubs, whose members include many senior government officials, military and police officers, often blatantly violate this rule
They often simply ignore traffic regulations and force other motorists to make way for them. It also often happens that senior military and police officers and Jakarta officials force other passengers to make way for them on Jakarta's clogged turnpikes just because they want to beat the traffic
Andi, the police and other government officials found lots of reasons, excuses and loopholes to defend the President's actions Sunday
But do they understand that the President should set a good example and show solidarity with the people suffering in traffic? Why didn't he simply leave home a little earlier if he wanted to get to Sentul on time? To avoid possible post-power syndrome, the President also needs to experience the traffic problems during his term, because when he is no longer in power he will find himself thrown back into traffic hell. He needs to learn from Soeharto, who had to readjust to traffic after 32 years of being congestion-free
Traffic jams are a top public enemy for Jakartans. When officials selfishly liberate themselves from traffic, how can people expect them to resolve the problem? The President, of course, should arrive in time for state functions during his five-year term, and therefore, according to state protocol, he has the privilege of traffic-free roads. Along with the president, vice president and a few other officials, state guests, ambulances, fire trucks and funeral processions also enjoy this privilege
On Nov. 17, 2004, six people were killed when police -- suddenly, according to eyewitnesses, but denied by police -- stopped passing cars because the President and his entourage wanted to use the turnpike
The first family decided to live at Merdeka Palace here in Jakarta, and not at their private residence in Bogor, largely to avoid traffic jams
The President may need to consider using the presidential helicopters more often, although from the frequent air mishaps in Indonesia, he may feel safer in his limousine
The President needs to set an example for the people, who are fed up with the rampant abuses of power by government officials, and show that he shares their problems, including traffic jams
Of course, security considerations are also a top priority. But riding a motorcycle on the turnpike is wrong! Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The writer can be reached at purba@thejakartapost.com Copyright 2006 The Jakarta Post
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