I am an Introvert and I am Proud

Oneday day a friend said to me, "you know, X is afraid of you because you are too quiet and stubborn." He grinned guiltily and added, "So you know and take precaution." I looked at him dumbfounded but managed to extend a smile of gratitude.

Well, that really took me by surprise. I know that I am a total introvert. I am a loner and keep things to myself. My husband and my good friends said so. When I feel like recharging my depleted energy, they just know what I need. They leave me in my own solitary with a novel at my hand and a cup of tea at my bedside.

So to speak, I never thought my solitude and quietness gave someone uncomfortable feeling. Most of the time, people just leave me alone in peace. I was invisible and posed no threat to anybody's in particular? I do my working on assignments but do not think of career advancement. It is as simple as that.

But, hey, I used to work in smaller working unit so it was not too crowded. It was just a place I felt like home, small, less noisy and I knew each and everyone of them. They knew me and just accepted my presence.

In the end, large crowds with assertiveness and outspokenness is not really my nature. It does not mean that I don't like people. I occasionally enjoy large parties but want to sit and watch the action from the sidelines. I might be picky, choosing quality over quantity in relationships, preferring smaller circle of close friends rather than a large network of acquaintances.

I might have this feeling that it’s not people in and of themselves that pose the most daunting challenge; it’s fighting for air in a muddled conversation exerting ourselves to create the necessary I need. I’d rather just accede the territory and move on to quieter frontiers. It gives me peace.

Thus, I enjoy to observe, listen and write down what I learn. I enjoy such role. It's like living a quiet world in noisy world.I do feel like talking when I have nothing important to say or when everybody else are already say many things enough. I do not need attention for speaking up.

I thought something was wrong with me. Did I suffer a mental illness for not able to being more sociable and well-liked? I was constantly encouraged to speak up, to come out my shell and let the world know my voice.

To some extend, I have tried so hard to imitate the extroverts. But it killed me to be someone I was not. It was not an adventure. It was walking toward self-destruction. My adventure does not embark on such path of outspokenness, gregariousness and the alpha-role thing.

Neither my adventure involved swords, dragons or superpower. It does not require me to hike the Rinjani trail or steer a boat solo across the world. All I had to do was sip my cup of tea and tap away at my keyboard.

And now, I know there was nothing wrong with my introversion. It's a power I should tap the energy from to gain strength. I do not need to be someone whom I am not to be accepted and be happy 

An Ounce of Happiness Weighs More than a Pound of Gold

Swaying in rhythm with the commuter train, I can't help thinking of what others in the carriage might think of. Are they happy? Is there any unshed tears in those faces? I know, that is not my damn business! Yet, those silly queries linger.

Getting out of the station, queueing to get out, some street peddlers and buskers welcomed the snaking commuters. Some wearily sang melody out of tunes, hoping commuters might throw their lucky coins. A few with slumped shoulders just stood by their goods, relying on the good samaritans to make a deal. Yet, many with cheerful faces made a good offer to attract buyers, smiling genuinely all the while.

Are they happy despite their financial shortcoming? Even happier than the commuters who folded their faces, wrinkled with exhaustion?

There is always a nag in my feelings to feel the everyday stage of life in my commuting. Poverty is on display in every nook and cranny of any streets I passed by. Yet, there always exist an ounce of happiness in such places. It is sometimes better than a pound of gold in high-walled luxurious mansions.

In a world where misery, poverty, famine, malnutrition, conflicts and wars, natural disaster and catastrophe linger, diseases and plagues, happiness seem a distant away. Yet, there is always something alluring beautiful in such places where happiness come to pay a visit.

Everyone has moments of uncertainty, sadness, breakdown and despair. It's what makes us human. However, finding your own sense of happiness can make a liberating difference.

Sometimes and often, happiness is the accumulation of any small meaningful moments we have. Remain present in each moment. Just take time to feel, see, hear and touch the world around you. And perhaps make a different in any soul you touch.

What is then happiness to you?

Lik

The Edge Of Grace

Some colleagues say to me that they do not want to be stationed in certain Departments of our office due to the extreme work culture required. They dread the unusual working hours where staffs there often work into the wee hours of the morning just to get some reports done. Their weekends are spent constantly checking in with the office. Work begins to take up nearly their every waking hour. And it is contagious! My colleagues just avoid to enter the working to death environment.

Another story goes the opposite way. Some colleagues of mine often brag about on how they have to juggle their mundane tasks with the deadline. Their boss needs them as he relies on them constanty. It makes them feel important and worthy. Their goal of life is to work and save and build weath and assets until such time as they believe they can retire and ‘enjoy’ life. As a result, they always have outstanding work performance every year by working so hard with longer work hours. Yes, the company dubs them as exceptional employees who give an unremitting struggle to perform  their best and to sacrifice everything.

Of the two, I think I have been there in both vessels. I have worked arms and legs just to get my works done to my ideal. My job becomes my existence. Oh, how naive I was back then. Holding on desperately to my ideals, thinking that working hard nail to toes would bring happiness, one step closer to what I strive for in office. Then, a hard slap on my face brings me back to reality, waking me up from the dreadful dream. Overworking will not get me everywhere but to the land of physical and physhological strains. Work life balance is the answer to the psychosis environment. I work hard but I do not overwork.

Sadly to say, we live in a culture that applauds overworking. Overworking means role model employee who goes hand in hand with outstanding performance, bigger paycheck, boosted prestige, a success and land into the circle of the golden children. Working up to the wee hours will certainly be met with a pat on the back rather than a look of concern. Such employees become so emotionally tied to their job which provides fundamental source of meaning and recognition as well as helps them determine who they are. They would feel lost without it and desperate when it is threatened. Often, it is in the expense of life.

Then, the death of a Chinese banking regulator Li Jianhua who literally worked himself to death last June has again cast a spotlight on the extreme work culture in the financial industry. China is now facing an epidemic which a decade ago has threatened Japan. It is called karoshi, sudden death from overwork as it is called in Japan. The china Youth Daily reported that about 600,000

Chinese a year die from working too hard. What a scary statistic! Yes, believe it or not, the toll for achieving an economic success is dready!

In regards to this stunning reality, I remember having one senior colleague who tragically met the same fate. Barely fifty, he died from heart attack which was believed to be the result of his overworking lifestyle. The major medical causes of karoshi deaths are heart attack and stroke due to stress. I believe if a study conducted, we would have higher casualties in statistics. In emerging markets like Indonesia, I am sure the ethics of  overworking to gain success still prevails even in the cost of one’s health or well-being.

With unemployment on the rise, people are worried about losing their jobs. The working environment become so competitive. There goes the much befitting survival of the fittest.They need the pay check to make ends meet for their family. It is absolutely a noble cause to do, a grace of a man.

Yet, as companies cut back to squeeze more productivity out of the existing employees, many of us feel like we’re working at double-speed just to stay in place. Many will do overwork due to this circumstances, making them vulnerable to suffer sudden occupational death. Many might fall from grace.

Perhaps, in a perfect world, we would not do ‘this death by overwork thing’ anymore but the reality is that for very competitive jobs, people still expect it and many will do it if they want the job badly enough. In the end, it’s about how far will you go to reach your goal?

For me, given the fact that I’ve been on both sides of the arguments, I think I choose to have my monthly paycheck without having a karoshi. What’s more rewarding than getting home early to see you kids or soulmate await you with a smile, having normal conversation in normal hours, and just enjoy the new day unfolds before you.

LIFE DOES NOT COME CHEAP

I breathed in a relief hearing, the newly issued regulation on abortion, No. 61/2014, based on the 2009 Health Law, remains endorsing that abortion is prohibited in most cases, unless the mother’s life is in danger or in the case of rape. I am happy that Indonesia does not tread the path of many developed western countries that finally legalize abortion as we have more diverse as well as different socio-cultural perspective.

I support the regulation that abortion is illegal unless the pregnancy endangers the mother's life and in the case of unwanted pregnancy due to rape. A fetus is a human being once it is conceived. The baby has the right to live thus abortion is a form of murder and demeans the value of human life. Abortion eliminates legal rights of the unborn child.

To begin with, the abortion decision is often made by minors or young adults, who don't have the maturity and life experiences to make sound decisions. The decisions are often driven by the needs to avoid bad social stigma and dreadful responsibility as a parent, thinking that they are too young for such burden.

Consequently, women who have abortion in their younger years end up living the rest of their lives in perpetual guilt and often suffer major psychological damage from the experience. Even if that women doesn't consider it murder at the time, that may change as she matures. The experience will haunt them forever, and they could never turn back the time.

Back at my hometown, I have some friends who made mistakes during their younger days. Having sex out marriage, then they got pregnant. They had to drop out of the school and their parents marrying them off to the fathers of the baby. Abortion is not an option in my village.

However, in most big cities, teenagers with pregnancy because of their irresponsible sexual activities, often go to back alley abortions to get rid of the unwanted child out of shame or fear. Personally, I think this is just morally and religiously wrong to kill a child due to shame and fear. They should think a million times over before committing sex if they have not ready for the consequences!

The so-called sexual revolution leading to happy-go-lucky sexual intercourse is not something to take on lightly. Sexual licentious is not a liberty to do irresponsible act, then have an abortion!

To prevent abortion, teens should be educated that free sex only brings fleeting pleasure but lasting harms. It helps to spread sexual transmitted diseases (STD), premature pregnancy leading to abortion and family rift. It also accelerates the destruction of a marriage institution and moral debauchery as marriage is what defines human different from animals, which satiate their primal need without any rules of laws.

Therefore, abortion legalization is not the answer to protect the reproductive rights of these teenagers as has been widely campaigned by the pro-abortion activists! If abortion is not available, perhaps people wouldn't be so careless in the first place. They should have keep their pants on and perform abstinence. Free sexual intercourse out of wedlock is morally and religiously wrong so if people especially teenagers just follow this guidelines, abortion will no longer an issue. Marriage is a legal and sacred institution to bring a man and a woman exercising their basic instinct, building a family, raise and nurture their children to carry on their legacy.

Another argument comes that abortion is against doctors' Hippocratic Oath, requiring physician to uphold specific ethical standard, of saving live instead of taking live. Preserving live is a doctor’s sacred duty. Therefore, if a pregnant woman went to see her doctor, wanting an abortion while there was no emergency, any good doctor would tell her that s/he has a conscientious objection to abortion and therefore can't help.

In addition, abortion shouldn't be a form of birth control for married couples as well. Other birth control is readily available. There are dozens of birth control methods that can keep ones from becoming pregnant, including the 100 percent effective one: abstinence. Thus, it is logically wrong to kill the unwanted baby resulted in the consensual act of the couple. It’s injustice to demand only pleasures from the act and have no courage the bear the responsibility.

In a case due to economic deprivation, the couple could not care the child properly, there’s always an adoption scheme. It is healthier than having an abortion, which might endanger their reproductive organs leading to infertility. Choosing an adoption over abortion means choosing a life over a death. Adoption does not mean giving up the baby but it gives life – life instead of death.

Women should keep in mind that many families actually go on waiting lists to adopt newborn babies, couples who have been waiting for years to adopt the baby they've desperately waited to hold in their arms. Even many experienced good loving parents with wisdom, resources, and plenty of love are reaching out to adopt another child regardless of race, religion, gender, or disability. They want a baby whom they want to cherish, value, and raise for the rest of that baby’s life.

It is so sad to think that instead of babies going to these families, they go into a trash heap or down a garbage disposal. It is sometimes frustrating to think that any mothers could feel that killing their children is a better option that choosing families for their children.  

Believe me, I know exactly how it feels to see such miracles of life go in waste in garbage bin. I have circles of friends who have been for years trying to have babies of their own. How it breaks their hearts to see others who given such miracles, but throw them like a sack of rotten potatoes! It is so cruel and unfair. How many nights I’ve shed tears just to dream of the tiny little baby squirming in my arms. How I love my adopted nephew, so much as he fills my days with love, trickle of laughs and joys.

Having said that mothers should choose a life over a death for their unborn babies as these little treasures might lighten up the days of other families! Their unborn babies might be the source of happiness of others. Life is a treasure to cherish. It does not come cheap.

And Thou Shalt Not Kill Indiscriminately in The Name of Religion

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/09/01/your-letters-the-hijacking-islam.html

And Thou Shalt Not Kill Indiscriminately in The Name of Religion

“And Thou shalt not kill, and do not take any life, which God has made sacred, except by way of [Haq]-justice and law (due process/just cause); thus does He command you, that you may learn wisdom.” (QS. 6:151)

The recent havoc wrought by The Islamic State, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), needs to be condemned. This terror group has obscenely hijacked the religion of peace, Islam. No verses in the holy Quran justifies their brutal killing of innocents, the persecution of minority group including the Christians and Yazidi, the conversion of non Muslims into Islam by force and any other horrific misdeeds they have committed. There is nothing whatsoever Islamic in their cause, thus the ideology should be extinguished.

My eight years old nephew asked profoundly, "Auntie is ISIS Islam? Why did they kill people?" He searched my face expectantly after accidentally we watched the news on the screen.

I stopped short for an answer. So many jarring arguments and answers swam in my brain as how best to provide reasonable answer for a child like him. I bet there are many Muslim children also have such critical question. It dreaded me to watch the gruesome images of an alleged ISIS boy holding a decapitated head of a Syrian soldier like a toy, smiling proudly along with his misguided father. Even those hardened by gruesome scenes in war-torn regions would find tough to stomach such vivid contrast of innocence and brutality. I thought of my nephew and raw emotions assaulted me.

It is a tragedy of humanity. How could a stupid ideology turn a man into a monster who encouraged his sons to follow on his shoes? My hearts ached. Frustration welled up inside of me. O, The foolishness of people! Surrendering to their carnal and primal savagery!

I looked my nephew in the eyes. Repressing the emotion, I hugged him close before providing any answer.

"My dearest, ISIS or ISIL is not Islam. They are a group of lost people. You know the mango tree in the backyard of your Grandpa? It bears many juicy fruits every season, right?” He nodded but confusion engraved on his face.

"Well, sometimes, among the fruits, there some which are rotten, full of maggots. They are not eatable, thus should be thrown away lest they would bring disease and make us sick, right?" Again, he nodded.

This world is full of fruit trees just like religion. ISIL OR ISIS is like a rotten mango in your grandpa's tree. As any other fruit tree in the garden, each will have its own rotten ones. You should never touch or eat the bad fruit. Take only the good and you will be just fine. So, I said and hugged him again, silently praying that Merciful God keeps him safe and sound, away from the path of the astray and the lost.

My nephew looked me, scratched his nose and nodded again. Smiling, he said, "Oh, ok I got it! No bad fruit! Then, he ran to meet his friends who called him out to play.

After he left, I was still in bad mood. I hoped my silly explanation could make him understand in the simplest way.

It angered me to see the exceptionally brutal methods imposed by the group bearing Islamic symbol with them. It’s an identity stealing. The mass beheading is sickening. The capture of the young beautiful Yazidi women on the ground only God knows why by those sick men are nauseating. These terrorist have brought shame and disgrace to humanity. They have hijacked Islam.

The most frustrating fact is that the bad ideology has spread its wings up to Indonesia. Intelligence reports said some Indonesians join the group despite the constant education from the Muslim clerics and the government that the ideology is haram and has no place in Indonesia.

It is fearful to think that youngsters are being brainwashed with radicalism and terrorism in the cloak of religion. Their logical thinking is blocked and assassinated. They ignore the very first verse revealed to our Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), "Read."

Instead of put the verse into practice, they follow any ideology without any question to any group who disabuse Islam. Don’t they read that in Islam all forms of life is sacred to God, and that murder is forbidden - as it is listed as one of the Seven Greatest Sins in Islam. They live a life of their worldly interpretion instead of taking The Phrophet as the uswatun hasanah (the best role model in words and deeds).

How could they fail to learn that love and mercy is the epitome of Islam personified by The Phrophet. One such act of the Prophet’s mercy was when he emerged victorious after the conquest of Makkah with a force of 10,000 men. Instead of taking vengeance, he practiced the greatest act of mercy, allowing the pagans to go free telling them not to worry, and that he forgives them for what they have done! He could have killed all the pagans, these were the people who have slaughtered his beloved uncle, imposed cruelties and brutality to Muslims, have prosecuted and exiled them. Yet, he forgives them and pardons all of them. Not even a grass or animal should endure pain when his armies marched in. What better act of mercy can we get then?

In our day, the ugly fighting and conflict going are choking all over the world. The misguided zealots twisted the morality of the Qur’an, to justify their acts against the non-believers. Tragically, they fall into the deepest pit pf hell on earth as they farther depart from the path of justice, blinded by their bestial instincts. They spread hatred based on creed, caste and color.

And certainly ISIS or ISIL do not reflect the morality of Qur'an and Sunnah. Instead, they are the epitome of hatred, prejudice and violence. Not only did the group hijack planes, countries and destroy life, but they also hijacked the peaceful religion of Islam and split the brother and sisterhood of mankind.  Does Islam command its followers to wage war against unbelievers or kill them without provocation? Absolutely not!

Unfortunately, this is a popular misconception among people living in the United States and the west in general. The statements of a few radicals in the Muslim world don't help in ending this false idea in people' minds. They in fact help to spread and reinforce the fallacy. They stupidly become the agents of such propaganda.

In fact, Islam forbids the taking of any human life except for a just cause under the law (i.e. the Qur'an & Sunah), that is capital punishment for convicted murderers, fighting in wartime, or self-defense.

“…Whoever took a single life (one soul), except if it be for murder or spreading mischief and corruption in the land - It would be as if He killed the whole of Humanity; And (likewise) if any one saved one life, it would be as if he saved the life of all people. (QS: 5:32)

The Drama is Finally Over

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/26/your-letters-the-drama-finally-over.html

The Drama is Finally Over

Finally, the heart- thumping drama is over. As the Constitutional Court presiding Chief Judge, Hamdan Zoelva, struck the gavel to mark the final and binding verdict, the victor in the Presidential Election is no longer disputable. The Court has reinforced and legalized Jokowi-Kalla pair as President and Vice President in the next five years in line with the General Election Commission’s (KPU) decision. Despite the increasing tension outside the court, in which the mob wrought havoc, facts and truth are honored and triumphed. Every charge from Prabowo's protracted legal challenge of the legitimacy and constitutionality over the electoral result is rejected. This shows a victory for the nation's arduous journey toward stronger rules of law and democracy. This is the victory of the people, a new beginning in the chapter of our history.

Further, this is also the end of the noisiest democracy in Indonesia. For the past four months, the political hullabaloo has created nuisances that turned friends into enemies, lovers into nemesis, kin into opposite warring tribes, and neighbors into foes. The polarity has weirdly affecting personal relationship by turning many a sheet on a lover’s bed cold, and froze the warm coffee of a friendly chat. Such nuisances invades in the social medias as well as tweets relating to unfriend”, “unfollow”, “block” or “unshare” spiked during these exhausting months. With the final verdict, it is hoped that the rifts can be mend and scars can be healed.

However, although the Red and White Coalition have expressed their acceptance of the court ruling, the poisoning dissatisfaction is still high in the air. At the press conference, the spokesperson said, “Even though the Coalition accepts the verdict, we insist that the decision does not reflect substantive justice nor truth in Indonesia." Neither Prabowo nor Hatta was present. The groan of discontents is masked in rhetoric words.

There was no concession speech to woe their supporters to support the new government. It was no more than an inevitable bitter acknowledgement of court ruling acceptance. It is regrettable that the losing pair did not even congratulate the winner in reconciliatory notion. The gesture to uphold political ethics is met with cold shoulder.

They failed to learn from the maturity of their constituents. Instead of expressing words of wisdom to seal the wound and scars left by the rift in the grassroots, the élites keeps throwing inflammatory statements, which is not conducive to mend the loosening knots of the people’s unity.

I just shook my head in disbelief. I should have known better! Indonesia is indeed in dire need of good politicians and statesmen. The shenanigans of power-lust politicians are nauseating. They have suffered insurmountable deficit of trust from the people.

Perhaps, this is one of the many reasons why there are more and more people hate politics and politicians. The legislative body’s corrupt image is hard to erase with the increasing politicians and lawmakers arrested for alleged corrupt practices. Their recent acrobatic foolish movements worsen their already tainted image.

We still remember vividly how their unscrupulous use of their political authority for personal gain destroyed any credibility in the House. We will not easily forget their tolerance of corruption and moves to undermine the fight against corruption as evident in the House’s support for bills to weaken the KPK. Politicians constantly and publicly dress up the frailties of petty politicking, tedious tribalism, gossip and self-interest as humble public service. Such hypocrisy is rarely good for their credibility. As an old saying goes, “Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.”

This nation craves for honorable politicians, figures who create good examples for the implementation of honorable politics and democracy. Figures who work very hard for their constituents and in the national interest for the good of the country and never get a gratis peerage from a thankful nation at the end of their careers.

We are thankful that amid this spine-tingling drama and worsening political behaviors of the elite, Indonesian people come out mature as a growing democratic nation. There’s no political uprising and disastrous horizontal conflicts such as in Egypt, Thailand or Pakistan just to name a few. Indonesian people have exercised their rights to vote and voice their concerns in this electoral feast with high degree of responsibility resulted in a peaceful general election. Along with the General Election Commission (KPU), they safeguard a fair and transparent election. The Indonesian Army is also responsible for the smooth process of the deliberation of the MK ruling, thus should be praised for their neutrality to safeguard our democracy so that unnecessary violence and bloodshed could be avoided.

It is now time to open the new chapter, leaving the old ones behind. It is time to move on and continue to keep safeguard the new government in delivering their promise. Many hopes pin on the the winning pair.

We realize that having the new elect President will not make problems disappear in a blink of an eye from this nation. The increasing current account deficit threatening the economic stability due to the ballooning fuel subsidy, the growing intolerance in society, and the deforestation are just a few problems to tackle.

There’s no guarantee that Jokowi-Kalla will succeed to overcome these problems and bring Indonesia into a much better and stronger nation. But, the Indonesian people have given their trust for the pair as they are too fed up with the politicking of dishonor politicians. They rest their hopes in the new elect Presidenta. Thus, Jokowi-Kalla should not disappoint the people and do their best to bring Indonesia for the better.

The Inaugural Issuance of Rp. 10,000 to Mark the Indonesian Independence Day

The Inaugural Issuance of Rp. 10,000 to Mark

the Indonesian Independence Day

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/20/citizen-journalism-new-banknote-marks-independence-day.html

Something special is present in marking the most special day for Indonesia in my office today. Jubilant faces were lined up orderly in the field to follow the sacred procession of flag hoisting ceremony led by Agus D.W Martowardojo, the Governor of Bank Indonesia. In his speech, the Governor disclosed that this Indonesian Independence Day is also in coincidence with the inaugural issuance of Rp100,000.

The new redesigned bank notes—dubbed the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia/NKRI) money is the first bill in compliance with Law No. 7 of 2011 on Currency that seeks to promote the use of Indonesian Rupiah in domestic transaction conducted in Indonesia. The law is among others stipulated to grant the Finance Minister the right to sign banknotes together with Bank Indonesia. This new banknote with the joint signature should be printed and circulated stating Aug. 17, 2014. The law would give the government a stronger legal base for managing the rupiah in the future.

However, the new bank note will not be replacing the one currently in circulation just yet. As Peruri's printing capacity is limited, the amount of new banknote printed is still small.

The scorching heat as the sun slowly set high, did not stop the annual feast, to commemorate the day when Indonesia acquires its freedom after more than three centuries of fear, terror, tear, and blood. Yes, we may not experience the bloody history, but we learn it by heart. Therefore, we feel the joy in celebrating the day. Freedom is priceless. It is our sacred duty to honor our fallen heroes and founding fathers by doing our best for the benefit of our country.

As the governor left the field, heading for the Sacred State Flag hoisting ceremony at the Palace, we were dismissed. Many took selfie pictures, posted in their social media page fan. Some were rushing to the parking lot, avoiding the traffic around the building, by departing early. While some others went straight to the cashier counters at C Building Complex to get the new Rp. 100,000 bill. I followed the latter, curious to know the atmosphere in the bill exchange room. Yes, we had the opportunity to collect the bills for the first liners.

Excited faces have queued in front of the cashiers. To my surprise, it was not overcrowded as I expected. Only tens of BI staffs joined the line, waiting expectantly to get the bill. All were served in a timely manner. Many took pictures of the new bill, waving the money with beaming face. I just smiled seeing the action.

On closer look, the new banknotes have "Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia" (Republic of Indonesia) written on them, replacing the name of the current issuer, Bank Indonesia. They still have the same denominations as the current notes, still have pictures of national figures, and are claimed to be harder to counterfeit. They also have Indonesia's first president and vice president, Soekarno and Hatta, on the observe side (face).  Another new design is the elimination of BI deputy governor's signature; replaced by the signature of the Finance Minister. The bills still hold BI Governor's signature.

This joint signature of BI Governor and Finance Minister indicates that another person and another institution are now also accountable over the money issued. In plain view, there are now two parties responsible for the Indonesian money: the government and the central bank. It means that the Indonesian currency is not only supported by the monetary sector, but also by the fiscal sector.

Asked as to why my colleagues collected the new bank notes, they voiced several reasons differently. Mega and Dony, staff at the Human Resources Department wanted the bill as this is its inaugural issuance so it would be totally cool to have it first. Nuki of Assets Management Department went to a great length for the new bank note out of curiosity while some others whom I interviewed said in a chorus that they wanted to show it off.