Our First Female Major

We officially got our first female Major!!!! 

I've been so long wanting to declare this....months ago in fact. Ever since Ms. Tri Rismaharini won the election for Surabaya's Major. But, due to massive and systemic offenses occurred during the first poll, the Constitutional Court had ordered an election re-run. So, I had to held back my jubilant expression....although, like many of other citizens, I was so annoyed towards that order.

The final vote count after the court-ordered repeat of Surabaya's mayoral election revealed that Ms. Risma (that's how she is known mostly) and her running mate, Mr. Bambang DH once again won the election. Yay!!!! No more excuses....Surabaya, my beloved city, Indonesia's second largest city have its first female major!!!

Just in case anyone's wondering why it's such a big matter....because in this still-very-patriarchal country, so many people doesn't welcome the idea of women as a leader. So many excuses they use to prevent that thing happened, from religion rules till personal matters. Sometimes, those people forget that not all of other citizens are ignorant. Many of us prefer to see the fruits of his/her work, instead of gender or races. Okay, I'm not so sure about looking over someone's religion....hehehehe....it's still a very delicate thing here....hehehe...

And about Ms. Risma...which Surabaya's citizen who didn't know her? Her success in making Surabaya green is well-known. There were many green areas and public parks built while she was in charge of Dept. of Solid Waste and Environmental Program here. And she is known for her straight ways in handling her tasks and all of its problems....and not just talking behind her desk!!!

With her lead as this City's Major, I hope there would be a refreshing wind in governmental management. That its prime duty is to serve the citizens. To reduce the nonsense-talking habit of politicians. To become a good example to others, that there's nothing wrong in the idea of women as leaders.

Next stop....FEMALE PRESIDENT!!!!

My unique way to celebrate The Youth Pledge

Okay, I know.....it's waaaayyyyyyy too late to write about this. But then....better late than never, isn't it...hehehehe....

The Youth Pledge (Indonesian: Sumpah Pemuda), was a declaration made on 28 October 1928 by young Indonesian nationalists at a conference in the then-Dutch East Indies. They proclaimed three ideals, one motherland, one nation and one language.

This year, as a tribute to the Pledge, precisely on Oct 28, first thing in the morning I put up this status on my Facebook:

28 Oktober......Khusus dalam satu hari ini, marilah kita menggunakan bahasa Indonesia yang baik dan benar, lengkap dengan pola S-P-O-K-nya!

In simple English:

Special during this day, let's use the good and proper Indonesian language, complete with its perfect grammar!

So, since the minute after I published the status above, I chatted with my online friends using the proper Indonesian. No matter that they wrote to me using our usual dialect or slang, I responded to each of them using the proper Indonesian. My original plan was using it for the whole day, 24hr....after all, I only used it online, face to face conversation wasn't included.....how hard it was, I thought....hahaha...I had found the answer sooner before the lunch time arrived.....hehehe...

At 3.47pm, I changed my Facebook status and put up this message:

quitted early in using a proper Bahasa Indonesia today...hehehe...capeeeee deeeeehhh...too stiff, too formal, too un-emotional!! Wait for my complete description about it...hahaha....

See, at first I quite enjoyed flaunting my skill in using the proper Indonesian language. But after an hour responding to my friends' chat, I became exhausted. I couldn't express my feeling in each sentence. All my conversation looked like a scientific report, very dry...but not crispy....hehehe... Each time I wrote to my friends, I felt like have to hold my feelings very tight inside. But I tried to hold on..... During lunch hour, I was offline (thank God!...hehehe....) Then, when I was back online after 3pm, I chatted with one friend, and at the same time decided to let go my original intention....hence my new Facebook status on 3.47pm....hahaha... It was so relieved to be able to express my feeling freely, using any words come in my mind, disregard any grammar...as long as my chat partner understand what I'm talking about.

So, it is true what I thought all of this time. The proper Indonesian language is only fit to be used in a formal conversation between totally strangers or scientific reports. It doesn't mean that I don't love using Indonesian language. After all, how I could know which one is the proper and which one is mixed with a local dialect if I never learn and understand Indonesian language quite deeply? Furthermore, it is the official language for Indonesian citizens, and I am one of its citizens. So....long life Indonesia! Saya bangga ber-Bahasa Indonesia!

To vote or to abstain

Following the latest official advice from a certain religious organization here, and in anticipation of the upcoming national election for Indonesian House of Representative, there's a talk that the same organization would launch a new advice regarding the increasing tendency of abstention. One of my contact in another website has launched a pooling to see how people would react to the possibility.

I'm against the would-be-advice, but I also don't approve the abstention act.

I understand that one of the reasons why many people choose to be passive in an election is that none of the options available is in their favor. But then, we should choose any lesser of two devils, right? Like my motivation in registering as legal taxpayer, I think by voting we also gain some legal rights in criticizing the elected government. If one choose to abstain, the person shouldn't feel it's his right to also eat and enjoy some fruit of increasing prosperity. Nor it's his right to protest any of government's mismanagement causing him suffered. When one choose to abstain, the person also give up the right and responsibility in making sure the government run within his approval.

Then, why am I against any religious interference in this matter? Simple, because it is every one's right to vote or abstain. Even God give us each a free will to choose our own way, either go to Heaven or Hell or just follow any road in sight. The main thing is every option has its own consequences, and we each have to accept and deal with that.
For your information, none of my votes win any elections. Furthermore, lately I lacked information about who or what I should choose. But it doesn't lessen my enthusiasm in participating in the upcoming national election. Hmmm....I think I would give my vote to the same side as before. Curious? No way would you know.....it's strictly confidential...hahaha!

I'm legally a registered taxpayer!!!!

Okay, I should have shouted that days before now. Preferably at the beginning of this January. But due to my too deeply-immersed-reading the TWILIGHT SAGA, I put the idea to the dark corner of my mind. Oh well, it's not the only idea I neglected nowadays....

The SUNSET POLICY launched by the Government to double-up registered taxpayers last year had made me thinking and re-thinking every other day whether I should register or not. The tax value I should pay each year is definitely not much. And there's a possibility that I would be free from paying the annual tax next year, according to the new tax rules. What advantage or benefit would I gain from this small-yet-contains-a-risk step?

My motivation is quite simple. By taking this step, I would have a legal right to criticize the government, especially in its finance management. After all, it's our tax money they use for the operational. It's like saying, "Hey, you couldn't ignore my opinion! I have a legal proof that I had donated a part of my income for your convenience, no matter how little its value but I had had to work hard to earn it. You have received it, use it well within my approval!"

So, in the next two months I would be facing the complicated works of filling in the annual tax report. Not only for the company where I'm working, but also for myself. Hopefully, it would be quite as simple as I think.

Special Edition - Hari Sumpah Pemuda

Special for today, I'm using Bahasa Indonesia to honor the event on October 28, 1928 where a group of young Indonesian nationalist [by then, it was still called Dutch-East Indies] declared three ideals, one motherland, one nation, and one language. The declaration is famously called The Youth Pledge.

Sebenarnya, ada banyak materi dan pemikiran tumpang-tindih dalam kepala saat teringat hari ini ada Hari Sumpah Pemuda. Semuanya berawal dari harapan dan kebanggaan akan bangsa ini yang hancur lebur sejak lebih dari 10 tahun lalu, dan belum juga terbangun kembali.

Waktu berusaha mengeluarkan ide tersebut menjadi kalimat yang enak, mendadak mata tertuju pada salah satu isi milis sebelah. Ndilalah [eh, bahasa apaan, tuh? hehehe....] rada-rada mirip lah dengan maksud hati, dan disampaikan dengan lucu pula....

Thanks to Cak Susanto (Smada87, Ars-its A22)

28 Oktober

Kami Putra dan Putri Indonesia bersumpah :

1928 Kami berbangsa satu, Bangsa Indonesia
2008 Kadang-kadang kami masih tawuran antar : pelajar, mahasiswa, anggota masyarakat, penonton/suporter bola dan/atau Anggota dewan terhormat di Gedung yang terhormat, Kami jual anak Gadis, Istri dalam jeratan traficking, tetapi kami hanya sebagian kecil, wakil dari 220 juta bangsa Indonesia.

1928 Kami berbahasa satu, Bahasa Indonesia
2008 Adakalanya kami sering dan bangga menggunakan bahasa asing, bahasa proke'm dalam kehidupan pergaulan kami, agar kami beda yang lain tidak ngerti dan bukan kelompok kami, tetapi kami hanya sebagian kecil, wakil dari 220 juta bangsa Indonesia.

1928 Kami bertanah air satu, Tanah Air Indonesia
2008 Tanah, Hutan, Laut dan Udara mu, kami eksploitasi untuk kelompok kami dan bangsa asing yang memperkaya kami, tetapi kami hanya sebagian kecil, wakil dari 220 juta bangsa Indonesia.

1928 Kalian Pengkhianaaat. ....
2008 Kalian juga waktu itu wakil, hanya sebagian kecil dari Young Selabbes; Young Java; Young Borneo; Young ...... hanya ngaku-ngaku. Kakek dan Orang tua kami tidak ikut sumpah itu kan???

Salam dari Kami
Tetap semangat Indonesia!

Huahahahaha....eh, tapi miris juga loh!

Sekali lagi...thanks to Cak Susanto [wajib hukumnya, loh, menyampaikan sumber tulisan! Daripada disomasi orang....hehehe...!]

A Conversion from Oil to Gas : Between Government's Assumption and Public's Ability to Pay

These days in every Indonesia's TV stations, there is an ad to promote a recent programme of our government : Converse in using oil to gas for cooking. This programme is intended to help the Government in reducing the heavily subsidized fuel and electrical consumption.


The bottom line of the ad is that if we really count it, the average daily cost of using gas is definitely lower than using oil, not to mention others advantages like easier in cleaning, less time consuming in cooking process, lower risks in igniting fire and explosion.


Well, it's true. But one thing crucial which I guess never thought by our government is the people's ability to pay. Maybe gas is less costly than oil, but one couldn't buy gas in only 2-5 litres a day. One has to buy a container minimum for 15 kg, that assumed could be used for one or two weeks. And for that, one has to pay Rp 30.000,00. Compare that with oil which could be bought only for a litre or Rp 2.000,00. It could be only for a day, yes, but then mostly lower and middle class people now live on daily basis. That means all they have is just for living today only. So, they would buy things they need for today. There's no money that big so they could buy gas, and surely there isn't any agent who would willingly sell the 15 kg gas at once and be paid daily afterwards.


Maybe there are many people in this country that couldn't imagine or simply don't know that there are others who still try hard to live and exist from day to day, even in big metropolis cities like Jakarta and Surabaya. But, they do exist, and they're the most to suffer from this conversion programme as this programme mostly is aimed for people living in the big and metropolis cities.


Well, I guess it's hard. The government and those people, they both are all right in their each opinions. But, really, all that we need is time to cool down. So, the government has to be more patient in socializing the programme. And we, the people, should try to trust the goodwill of our government and give a chance in trying and running the programme, see if it is really as good as the government says it will.


Talk less, do more!

The National Examination: Fair or Not?

Last Friday, there was a talk that students from several high school at Surabaya would demonstrate against the new addition subjects to the National Examination which will be held on June 2008. I am not sure if those students truly did their action, since I haven't read any weekend newspapers, yet.

For the last few years, there were only 3 subjects included in the National Examination (UNAS); Maths, English, and Indonesian. Students have to gain minimum grade 5 of 10 to be passed from those exams. Further more, there must not be any grade under 5 in each subject. So, although one student gain a perfect 10 on Math, he/she wouldn't pass if, for example, the grade of his/her indonesian test is only 4.75.

I am not sure what the new subjects will be added to the next year UNAS. Anyway, I think it is necessary. Just think, a junior high school student also has three years to learn Physics and Biology, just like the three subjects above. So, why those two subjects shouldn't be included in the National Examination as well? The same reason goes as well for other subjects for senior high school students, like chemistry, economy and accountancy.

When I was still on high school, more than 10 years ago, the sum of the National Examination subjects was almost the same as the school examination. I think it was 5 subjects for junior high school and 7 for the senior years. Easier in my days? Of course not..........., I don't think so! The skill level required is almost the same between now and then. The materials are also almost the same. So, what's the big, heavy issues here?

I guess one main thing that make the students now recoil in thinking must studying more subjects for the UNAS is the grade system. In my days, there was also a rule that a minimum grade must be gained was 6, higher that nowadays rule. But it was an average grade, not individual. So, it was okay if one only got 4 in a subject, as long as he/she got much better grade in others. Further more, this UNAS grade was not the only factor in determining either a student passed his/her exam or fail. The major factor was still held by local exams done by each school.

I think the UNAS system now indeed unfair both to the students and schools. Three years learning only to be decided by one day exam only? In doing so, the government also undermine the school roles, as though they didn't believe in the teachers' works at all. Granted, the UNAS is still very important, but I think not for deciding the student passing grades, but more for help a student decide where he/she will go after this kind of school. Either he could continue to university or polytechnic or taking others short courses. So, the UNAS system will be more like SAT in USA or "A" and "O" level in Singapore. Let the school decide on its own either a student has fullfill his required skills or not.

But, in the meantime.....study hard, children! It's your obligation, doesn't matter if you should do three exams or seven. Give your best, and don't worry..after all, everything good will be ended well.