Reviving the Traditional Market

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/20/your-letters-reviving-traditional-market.html

Traditional markets have for the most part been part of my life. Having relocated into a market from being a street vendor, my mum once was a permanent occupant of a small traditional market in my hometown. She used to bring me along to her small stall while I was on holiday. In fact, every morning before school, I helped her bring her merchandise to the market. It provided the bread-and-butter income for my family.

I remember vividly the look of the dirty, muddy, smelly market. I remember the jostling throngs in the market, with old women donning simple kebaya with kain jarik (traditional Javanese cloth) secured by a stagen (belt) and men with sarongs wrapped around their bodies. The narrow muddy aisles were coated in a layer of slimy vegetable peel. In the morning, the sun would slowly creep over the shabby stalls, highlighting the cobwebs all around. 

The smell of herbs from faraway stalls wafted through the densely populated market, mingling with salted fish, chicken and meat; the various scents permeated the poor enclave. The sweat of the coolies, the friendly faces of the vendors and the chatter of the consumers haggling over prices all marked this experience.

Most of the sellers and buyers knew one another as they came from neighboring close-knit communities. It was the first “global” economic transaction I encountered. The price depended largely on the law of supply and demand. Haggling, borrowing and lending were also part of day-to-day business in this small market. It was the local trade to sustain the livelihood of people in its economic chain: farmers, traders, housewives, craftsmen and simple eatery businesses. This is how most people in very rural areas buy and sell, and sometimes trade, in order to obtain the necessities of life. Thus, traditional markets are an important part of the economy in most of the country.

The man in the pale blue uniform of the Market Management Office would tour the market to collect the daily market service fees from the vendors. The price, in the 1980s, was Rp 500, which at that time was still enough to buy a bowl of chicken noodles. 

Yet, despite the fees, the traditional market did not have any major improvements made to it at all. The market still looked shabby and smelled from the piles of garbage in every corner. During the rainy season, it got worse, because it became very wet and muddy with puddles all around. It seemed as though collecting fees from vendors was the sole occupation of the traditional market management, rather than properly managing the market. 

Nonetheless, regardless of the poor condition and inconvenience, people chose to shop for their groceries in this godforsaken market because the prices were far cheaper than in the supermarkets. The comfort of the modern hypermarket denied customers the ability to exercise the art of haggling, as all prices were 
fixed. Women, who are the dominant consumers, have this natural urge to sometimes mercilessly haggle to get the cheapest price possible. 

In going to the traditional market, women often have the mission to save as much money as possible. So, going to the market can be a really daunting mission. The president-elect has vigorously been campaigning, saying traditional markets are of crucial importance to our farmers, as well as domestic produce. I hope his promise can be delivered soon. The modernization and revitalization of traditional markets, as well as providing easy access, is crucial to improve the welfare of farmers and any disadvantaged families who rely heavily on the affordable produce. 

Welcoming Mr. President

"In the name of God, I swear that I will fulfill my obligation as the president of Indonesia as best as I can and as fairly as possible." Wearing a black suit and traditional cap, the President Elect, Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo took the sacred oath. The political outsider will now start to wage the war and will be under fierce pressure from the outset as he now helms the world’s third largest democracy.

By this simple vow comes the daunting task amid the highly divided factions at the Parliament to enact a bold reform agenda. Today, the euphoria drowns the notoriously fractious parliament for awhile. After the ceremony, Jokowi and his new vice president, Jusuf Kalla, traveled in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by a parade to the presidential palace from Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

Thousands of people took to the street to welcome the new President. Employees in the buildings along the roads halted their activities to join the 'pesta rakyat' or people's celebration with hired street vendors to offer meals for free. My colleagues and I rushed out after break hour to join the masses to catch a glimpse of the infectious merriment. Under the scorching heat, Thamrin Street has turned into an ocean of people, old and young, employed and unemployed, rich and poor. It was smiles all around, and a real feeling of festivity in the air. 

Bapak Mahmuri came thousands of miles away from Pemalang on bicycle to Jakarta to mark the historical moment. For a week, he paddled his old bike with various attributes of Jokowi-JK posters, photos, and pins. Despite the long arduous journey, he said he had no regret and was happy to be here. Asked further by taking such a great length of troubles, he proudly said because he loved Jokowi for his down to earth style. Jokowi comes from neither a politically elite nor a military background. This simple and less glamorous backdrop makes him familiar with ordinary people. "Jokowi is me and I hope he will remain the same after becoming President. To keep listening to ordinary people's plights, honest and work for the good of Indonesia."

Seventy six years old Ibu Noor expressed similar view about Jokowi. Coming to Jakarta back in 1953 from Jebres-Solo, she had experienced all seven presidential inauguration, from Sukarno to Jokowi. Unlike his predecessors, there's never been such jubilant celebration joined by people from all walks of life in the main thoroughfares of Jakarta. Never before in her life, could she greet the President face to face in the street without any major hindrances. Ibu Noor lived in Jalan Jaksa area and she joined the masses with her daughter in law. Her big families from Solo would join them later after completing the parade with the entourage. Rearranging her headscarf with her wrinkled hands, she said "I hope Pak Jokowi remains truthful to deliver his promises. He is a good ordinary man with remarkable loveable persona."

It's amazing to speak with these various people on the street with their beaming faces and smile. Despite the searing hot climate, people were enthusiastic to closely follow up the procession, stealing an opportunity to shake hands with the President. So much hope and high expectations rest on the shoulder on the new government. People hope the remarkable of softly-spoken politician who was brought up in a riverside slum could truly relate his experiences with plights of the downtrodden could bring a difference. They hoped the new government could live up the expectations to bring Indonesia into a brighter future, alleviate poverty, eradicate the corruptive practices, build up stronger good governance and tackle the mounting minority discrimination.

The euphoria of the inauguration is likely to be short-lived as Jokowi comes to lead in a critical moment. His first test will be to reduce the huge fuel subsidies that eat up about a fifth of the budget, a move economists say is urgently needed but which risks sparking large street protests. He should also tackle the political gridlock which has been easing in ahead of inauguration. Yet, it does not guarantee his reform agenda to run smoothly without any challenge.

It's such a huge challenging task to be the New President. Jokowi is not a Messiah who can instantly bring us to salvation. Jokowi does not have a magic wand like Harry Potter or Merlin to bid things do things for him with one smooth wave of the magic spell. Nor does he have superhuman power to prevent bad things for happening. He is just a simple man with proven track record of hardworking ethics and integrity who wants the best for his people. He is imperfect, thus he needs every help to deliver the promises.

“Unity and working hand in hand are prerequisites for us to be a great nation. We will never become a great nation if we are stuck with division. "This is a historic moment for us all to move together, to work and work," Jokowi said after reading the oath.

The Cinderella Dreams: The Allure of Lavish Wedding

My eyebrows knitted together, bemused reading the recent brouhaha related to the extravagant wedding procession of the famous presenter Raffi Ahmad and Nagita Slavina. The lavish wedding that was broadcast live on one of the national TV for two days drew so many criticisms. Some argued it has violated the public’s rights to have beneficial news coverage instead of such wasteful display of luxury and urged the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) to issue a strict warning for the TV channel. Some defended that it was the constitutional rights of the couple to have it aired. The public could also have learnt the delicate Javanese traditional wedding ceremony up close.




Well, for me personally, it’s a bit like childish reaction. I mean c’mon there’s no violence, pornography or any disturbance contents in the procession. If you don’t like it, just switch the channel the way I do! I do not take pleasures or any bits of enjoyment watching such intimate wedding ceremony or any other celebrities’ gossips aired by so many infotainments. I dislike such waste of time, thus with only one push on my remote, I can get to watch other news channel.



Anyway, I also can understand perfectly how it feels to watch such absurd and obnoxious marriage feast — comparing to the idea of saving more food for citizens mired in poverty. The luxurious wedding appeared so Cinderella like dream in the recent emergence of an urban consumer society in Indonesia. The fabulous ‘kebaya’, the multilayered cake, abundant flowers, attendants and guests in their finery. The white wedding does more than mark a life passage. It’s just like a fairy tale in the midst of Charles Dicken’s Oliver Twist.



Despite Indonesia's rapid economic growth and the prosperity of the middle class, the country remains the home to about 28 millions of the world's hungry poor. Looming high inflation and rising food prices will deprive these people more of their two square meals a day. It’s a big irony comparing the two world of realities of the Have and the Haven’t. Therefore, it is understandable to have the feeling that such ostentatious wedding meaningless as more and more marriages are failing. Such show-off seems unnecessary because there have been instances where marriage hasn't lasted for even six months.



In a diverse country like Indonesia, not everyone is extremely poor or extremely rich. Weddings, lavish or humble, should depend on the two families and their respective status. If someone wants to have a dainty wedding, then they should be allowed to have their special day according to themselves. Banning something so trivial is of no use and the KPI should concentrate on more important aspects. There are more damaging soap operas and shows that should be scrutinized thoroughly for having violence, lewd behaviors, pornographic materials and biased political news coverage.

Revenge is Dish Best Served Cold

“It’s payback time, and payback time is hell."

Perhaps this line suits to describe the start of the classic tale like of political dirty tricks, examples of which are strewn across the battlefield eversince the war trumpet is blown during the Presidential race. The red and white coalition whose candidate, Prabowo Subianto, former son in law of Suharto, was narrowly defeated in July's presidential election, gears up to use the available political machinery to screw their political enemies. Yup, the world of political intrigue with backstabbing revenge against troublesome foes and threats against friends all in the name of winning an election or consolidating political power has robbed the citizens to exercise their direct vote to elect their regional heads. The hostile political revenge will likely to take the new government into their hostage by their politicking maneuvers.

After hours of debate and backroom dealings, the majority of the legislators of whom come from the Red and White Coalition voted to pass the Regional Election bill, scrapping direct elections for local officials and return to the electoral system in place under the former New Order regime. The epic drama in what was regarded widely as the battle of the two opposing sides during the previous presidential race came into climax when members of Democratic Party walked out of the arena. The much predicted scenario put a twist into the fight, placing the Great Indonesia Coalition into limbo. The Democrat has cunningly played their last wild card, sealing the victory for Gerindra and its allies. It is the success of banal political maneuver to return electoral authority from the people to the party leadership in the face of electoral defeat in the presidential election. Oh, revenge is indeed a dish best served cold!

The heartbreaking epic drama thus can be perceived as a setback to the country's democracy. Robbing our rights to choose our leaders is a blatant betrayal of our trust. Ignoring the public support endorsed by several independent polls that had shown a clear majority of Indonesians were in favor of keeping the direct elections, the defeated faction stood their ground to secure their own selfish interest. The apparent anguish and grief over bitter defeat were far more intense that drove these politicians to act against the public's will. It's like watching Shakespeare's Hamlet in which revenge and jelousy drove its main character mad and led him to downfall.

As a result, we are now left without any choice but to accept any leader who garners support from the politicians whose loyalty never sides with the people. We no longer can participate in the democratic process altogether, rendering all the progress and cost of the last 10 years in vain. It's like after a decade of enjoying the freewill to choose our 'partner' who will be with us in the long run, we are now forced to marry with a partner appointed by the regional legislative council.

It's so frustrating. It means we will no longer be able to see the little-known figures rise to power via direct elections for their clean track record, good performance and servant oriented leadership. It will hard for us now to witness figures such as Ridwan Kamil, Ahok, or Jokowi be elected as leaders.

The vote also represents an early defeat for president-elect Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, whose party had voted against the change, posing a threat that he will constantly face a struggle to govern effectively. It highlights the massive political challenges that lie ahead for his government. He will have a hellish battle in passing any policies such as tackling the ballooning fuel subsidy in the House. His rivals are determined to bring him down on his knees. They will remain staying as thorns for the new government.

The deliberation of the bill also amplifies the failure of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyo to leave a legacy of flourishing democracy. Instead, his ambiguity stance over the bill took a dramatic turn when his party successfully staged a plot twist in the plenary session. His party's 148 out of 560 House seats, held the balance of power. Unfortunately, the Democratic Party's half-hearted support drawn ire as they foolishly after such an exhausting long debate walked out of the plenary session. It was as if we watched the formerly fierce warriors at the beginning of the war, ran off cowardly, dropping their swords and just watched the slaughter of our rights to take place.The already outnumbered parties that genuinely wanted to keep direct elections, instantly fell in one smooth swoop. It's really tragic.

SBY was considered failing to use his prerogative authority to retract the bill from being deliberated while he had the power to do so. He is the first president to be directly elected by the people but he is also the person seems responsible for the setback in our democracy to the New Order regime and instills strongly centralized politics. This is the worst legacy he left behind that quickly drowns his achievements. Instantly, Indonesians too to social media to lash out their anger and disappointment. The hashtag ‪#‎shameOnYouSBY‬ was trending at the top on Twitter. It's definitely not a good way to leave an office in the wake of such controversy.

However, despite the bruising loss, several pro-democracy and anti-corruption watchdogs have kept the flame alive. They already vowed they would seek a judicial review of the legislation if passed. They hope the more sensible Constitutional Court that have impartially gave verdict over the previous Presidential election dispute will have better judgement over the case. People will likely seek justice through this last defense of justice to have the story concluded.

Also, personally we still have the chance to take back our control. Legislative, Executive and Judiciary are perhaps the three most significant pillars of democracy. But in the media era as of today, media has even stronger than these three pillars. The only hope of development of our country is the active and genuine performance of the fourth pillar, the Media. It has important role in shaping public opinion, ringing an alarm bells in cases of abuse of plwer, corruption, etc.In turn public opinion, is the ultimate check in the checks and balance system designed to ensure equal and balanced authorities between the three pillars. As long as the media favors the public and reveals nothing but the truth, I think we would be just fine.

So, regardless of the rise of political revenge in our country now, we as the constituents have our voice amplified throughout the media. With public pressure, let's just hope our esteemed politicians act maturely to serve us instead of blackmailing the public with their nasty politicking. We give them the power, surely we can deactivate it if they abuse it. We are their masters and not vice versa.

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Twin farce's comic finesse unmatched

How one reacts to the recently commotion in the House of Representative is perhaps shaped by our understanding of the process of policy-making in the political body. One might be appalled by the ugly show down of power displayed by the Red and White Coalition, which had endorsed the defeated presidential candidate, Prabowo Subianto. They have been lost once but they flawlessly devise new strategy for the next rounds. This time the thriumpant cries is theirs.

This sinister force has flexed its muscles for the ongoing battle for power in the legislative bodies and seems deaf at all ears of public's outcries. One will have their jaw drop seeing their witty orchestrated maneuvers to ensure their positions of power, regardless of the political ethics. In real world politics, they are surrounded by seasoned politicians who know how to strike back in full throttle even at the expense of the people.

In this case, knowing that they secured more seats at The House, they use the voting mechanism to seal their victory. This voting mechanism will serve as the effective arsenal for this coalition to outfox its bitter rival, the Indonesian Democratic of Struggle (PDIP) and its coalition partners which had backed President elect Joko ‘Jokowi” Widodo. While Jokowi won 53 percent of votes in the presidential election, his coalition controls only 37 percent of seats in the new parliament. The Red-White bloc has secured 53 percent of the seats, and get 63 percent if outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s (SBY) Democrat party. Consequently, it is obvious in any voting mechanism, the winner of such process can be easily predicted. Such political constellation is feared will be crippling the effectiveness of the President elect government.

In its preliminary battle, the Red and White Coalition has effectively use the voting mechanism effectively when discussion among faction bore no fruit. With backroom dealing and lobbying, they guaranteed to win the game. They have won two consecutive policy-making process; the scrapping of the direct local election and the clean sweep of the House speakership through which Democratic Party played a key role. Again, SBY showed off his craft as a formidable kingmaker. His party has the power to tip the balance of the game, holding the Holy Grail every faction seeks to form an ally with. It is believed it is a matter of time before the Red and White coalition strikes back to thwart the PDIP and its allies ambition to secure the People's Consultative Assembly speakership.

It is in such tight race in which no party secures the majority, lobbying among faction and parties become crucial in determining the wind of the game. There's no eternal enemy or friendship in politics. So to speak, the art of lobbying is crucial to win.

Lobbying in the governance light is inevitable and probably functionally useful to effectively run the government. Unfortunately, the disastrous lobbying displayed in recent parliamentary session have become an embarrassments trailed in the press this week. The hijacking of people's right to directly vote for their regional head is a result of such backroom lobbying for power. Real world politics may be messy, but it does not have to be tawdry, cheap and dirty.

Then, is lobbying a threat to the democratic system or just the politics of everyday advocacy?

As it happens, there are two major scripts about political life. In one lobbying is the disease of democracy, in the other it is the democracy.

In the former, politics turned poisonous when lobbying is based on temporary short term political interest. When people's interest is squandered and the effectiveness of government programs are being held hostage by such political fiasco, then lobbying becomes a sickness to weaken democracy.

The example of this poisonous lobbying can be best seen in the scrapping of regional heads direct election. Short term political interest to ensure control and power strengthened by the lust for revenge have solidified the Red and White Coalition to form the Majority. Then, political transaction is laid on table for the key of the winning, the Democratic Party. An alleged grand scenario came into play.

During the plenary session, All but PDIP, PKB, NASDEM and HANURA voted “aye" to scrap regional direct election while the holder of the holy grail walked out of the plenary session just like that. This walk out is allegedly due to intense lobbying and backroom dealing between the Democratic Party and the Red and White Coalition to give the Democrat position as one of House speakers and Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

The dice keeps rolling down with gory outcome. The Golkar Party which comes second in the election was awarded position as Head of DPR. The mortifying outcome of this poisonous politics is when Setya Novianto elected Chairman of the House Speaker when he has been on the row of potential suspects in graft cases. This is a blatant betrayal and banal ignorance of the people as it is agreed that the people does not want politician with problematic track record or in the process of law hold such lofty position at the House. This nomination amplifies how lobbying and backroom dealings are indeed a disease in democracy when party's interest is placed above the people's interest.

The majority wins. Yet, they seem to suffer an amnesia that their majority of seats does not reflect the people's will as even when they formed a coalition to endorse their Presidential candidate, they still lose because people who have no political ties rallied behind the President elect Jokowi who was backed only by four parties. The Democratic which came third in the election, holds the holy grail to tip the balance in one way or another. Therefore closed door meeting and lobbying becomes the most lethal arsenal to win the war.

These examples highlight how some political parties abuse the democracy itself. It is ugly. Politicians will say and do anything to ensure their positions of power, regardless of who else is brought down. They should have engaged in healthy lobbying on behalf on people's best interest. All should be laid on the table. If the people comes first, such voting mechanism would not take place, and political brouhaha witnessed by the whole world could have been avoided.

Nonetheless, such political ugliness is exactly why we should get involved in anyway we can. To just watch and scoff at the misdeeds of the men who do bad things is easy, but it is markedly ineffective. It is what evil men count upon the good people and take it for granted. The seeds of corruption feed off inaction and apathy. The weak are consumed by it, and the strong stay on the sidelines.

Let's unite and show to those clowns at The House that we have power to voice our dissatisfaction. Let's stand firm to support the Corruption Eradication Commission and condemn those politicians who want to thwart and weaken it. Let us support public officials who fight for their people and have trust and integrity. Let our voices be heard constantly be it in social media, newspaper, street and every corner of this nation. Indonesia belongs to its people and not just a bunch of politicians who think none but their own interest.

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