When a Gecko Fights Against a Crocodile 22 Oct 2015 2:47 AM (10 years ago)

“...a gecko wants to fight against a crocodile...” (National Police Criminal Investigations Commission, Police Commissioner General, Susno Duadji, TEMPO Magazine, July 6–12, 2009)

The Behind the Scenes Story
On the afternoon of July 6 2009, ten of us were a little surprised at the meeting invitation from these gentlemen, as it had been one month since our tiny office had became more crowded with their presence. We were happy since their opinions would help to increase our knowledge, but if only we’d known at the time that Antasari had been arrested and was being processed for his alleged involvement in a murder. I myself had argued with some friends the day before about the “murder scenario”, and imagined the associated “conspiracy theory”. At least one of the office glasses was already full of marker pens and diagrams. The only conclusion at the time was to “follow the money instead of focusing on the perpetrator.” That afternoon, the gentlemen looked more tense and serious than ever. I felt honored to have been invited to meet with them.

“We have to start moving!” “People outside need to know the real situation, otherwise the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) could soon disappear”, said one of them.
“Tomorrow there will be an attempt by the police to detain Chandra, and today we have no other choice but at the very least, we can’t stay silent,” he said again, thrusting his TEMPO magazine with an image of a face I didn’t recognize.

All I remember was that the person in the image had his hands on his hips. Although I didn’t know him, I didn’t like his style; I thought it was a bit arrogant. After I read more of the article, blood rushed to my head and although his words weren’t addressed to me, for some reason it felt like my dignity had been trampled. How could such person exist today? That was the first question that came to my head, and when I went back to check, it turned out that there are many more people like him in our country. Instantly, my stomach felt queasy.

“Now we have a reason to fight,” said a white-haired gentleman.
“We can write and immediately publish posts on several blogs, mailing lists, and websites; basically anywhere that can be accessed by the common person, who can then read about what actually happens”.

What did really happen? Was the second question that popped into my head. My thoughts were still stuck on Antasari’s murder case, until I realized that I still hadn’t eaten lunch.

“Write about the Bank Century corruption case, and the effort to weaken the Corruption Eradication Commission,” he repeated.
“What if we write from another angle?” I suddenly interrupted; a bad habit which is hard to shake. “What if we write by putting more focus on the gecko?” I was getting out of control. It seemed like everyone in the room was confused.
“I don’t know what your exact feelings are over this article, but in my eyes, what is meant by the gecko here isn’t only limited to the KPK”.
“We are all geckos in his eyes”.
“If the Chairman of the KPK is considered a gecko by him, then what are we - the ordinary people? Ants? Or germs?”

If I were any good at writing, I would write about the snobbery of the Crocodile and we could include another article about corruption to strengthen the reason why we’re angry”.

“He’s already corrupt, claiming to be a winner, and it’s so insulting”. I had completely lost control. For some reason, it looked like my last words were in fact true (which is rare) because the attendees seemed more receptive.
“OK then, try to write now and in an hour we will meet again,” said a tall gentleman with a long nose.
“Bro, you draw the cartoons! Some pictures of crocodiles attacking the KPK office!”
“Yes, I will try” I said, while beginning to play around with Corel Draw.
Then the gentlemen stepped out of the meeting room.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you”, said the white-haired gentleman.
“There is information saying that this office has been tapped by police as well, so be careful about what you say”, he said with a smile.

It was like being struck by lightning, my friends and I looked at each other in confusion, fear, anxiety, and wonder, but eventually, we laughed. Perhaps we were simply unwinding, laughing as though we were exhausted after being chased by dogs but then managed to escape—laughing with a feeling of anxiety and wariness. My brain was spinning, I started to draw a crocodile, then a building, then a gecko. It was indeed an ugly picture. If I were a school art teacher, I’d give a score of 3 for it. Then suddenly, I had an idea after I read the article again and saw the Apple logo on the computer. What we needed was a logo which depicted the resistance of a gecko against a crocodile. I had 30 minutes to draw, and I was sure that the result wouldn’t be good. Inspired by the symbol of YingYang, I created a circular image of a lizard and a crocodile in a face-to-face encounter and wrote in large letters; “I am a gecko, daring to fight against a crocodile”.
It’s possible that a logo/symbol would be more easily accepted, as opposed to a cartoon or caricature, since a logo doesn’t need to be understood, it’s more flexible in terms of being published in various media such as posters, t-shirts etc, and more importantly, it allows for freedom of interpretation. All my friends in the room approved the image I proposed. One hour was up. I was still not satisfied, far from it. Finally, the article was also finished and we decided on a phrase the word CICAK could stand for (gecko); “Cintai Indonesia, Cintai KPK” (Love Indonesia, Love the KPK). It did seem a little self-imposing, but there was no other better option so we all agreed to use it.

“Don’t forget to use the “gecko” logo as your “profile picture”. Share it with everyone we know and invite them to use it as well; as many people as we can,” I said to all present in the room.
The article was posted, the image went up. I was still far from satisfied with it. Because I was still curious when I arrived home, I tried to make some other logos. After 2.30 am, I had finished a logo with an image of a red gecko pointing its finger with the same writing; “I am a gecko”. I made the image my “profile picture” on Facebook, replacing my initial logo before finally going to sleep. The next morning, I was in high spirits going to the office with the objective of telling my other friends to use the new logo, rather than the old logo of Ying-Yang.

“Bro, your image has already spread everywhere”, said a friend who was sitting cross-legged in front of the office.
“In your new image, the gecko looks more like a large lizard. No gecko has spots on its body,” he said with a laugh. It was the same response when I entered the office.
“Was it you who drew the logo?”
“It’s already spread.”

I hurriedly opened my laptop, and went straight onto my Facebook account. Almost everyone I knew had already replaced their “profile picture” with the old logo. I was too late.
“Why did you make a new logo anyway?”
“It will make people confused about which one to use,” said a friend.
“Let it be, the more options there are, the more people will use them, since they may not like the old logo just like me”.
“We are democratic, aren’t we? It is not a matter of the logo, but what is represented in the logo,” I replied a little sad, since so many people had already used the old logo. In my heart, I was determined to “make another image, maybe even more”. Hopefully the images could represent what we were feeling.

“...I am a gecko, you are a gecko, we are all geckos and they are crocodiles”.

Gecko versus Crocodile” Online Campaign

There’s a clear distinction between the days before the internet era and thereafter in terms of the speed of disseminating information. A similar distinction was felt by humans about 300 years ago when the “printing press” was first discovered, and previously information could only be disseminated verbally. After printing tools were discovered, all records, discoveries and scriptures were able to be reproduced and distributed quickly. Imagine information dissemination being one thousand times larger in terms of amount and speed - that is the age of the internet.

Several characteristics determine how fast and large the effect of the spread of information can be in the virtual world, besides the technology itself, including:

The characteristics (demographics) of internet users in the area and the time in which information is “published” in the virtual world;
The situation/circumstances in which such information is published;
The way information is published and disseminated.

2008 was the beginning of a new social movement. Previously, most internet users were not quite aware of how powerful the internet’s role could be in disseminating information linked with movements /mass action. The case of Gecko versus Crocodile is one of the “milestones” in the history of community movements, which was united in the common goal of “Arising, Uniting against Corruption”.

The movement was started by ten people and supported by millions in less than three months. What distinguishes the Gecko versus Crocodile movement from other online and offline movements is its technique. Prior to this campaign, most other online and offline mass movements have been one-way, while the Gecko versus Crocodile campaign opened up opportunities for anyone to contribute, either directly or indirectly, by spreading the movement’s writings, drawings, and other works, or just by clicking “like” on Facebook.

Symbols in the Gecko versus Crocodile campaign had an important role because they could be directly received and absorbed by anyone who saw them, instead of adopting a different agenda or opinion about the eradication of corruption. The symbols of the Gecko versus Crocodile campaign successfully represent most of the community’s feelings, not merely in terms of “fighting against corruption” but also in terms of fighting “against the arrogance” of government officials/authorities.

Characteristics & Demographics
Indonesia has the highest number of internet users after China and the United States, with more than 70 million users. The number of users increases every year by approximately 18 per cent from the previous year, and nearly 70 per cent of all internet users are active on “social media” (Facebook), placing Indonesia as the country with the highest number of “social media” users in the world.

One of the social characteristics of internet users in Indonesia is that their “tendency to share” is stronger than in other countries such as China and the US, where internet users are more likely to be passive. The high level of activity and interaction among internet and social media users accelerates the process of information dissemination, making information more easily accessible amongst the network of internet and social media users.

An example is the Gecko versus Crocodile campaign, which was more easily accepted by people when they saw or read it in their own friendship networks, than if they had have seen it in electronic (website) or printed media. In this circumstance, the role of “social media” is crucial.

The statement “...a gecko wants to fight against a crocodile...”, issued by the National Police Criminal Investigations Commission, degraded what was essentially an exceptionally effective trigger in quickening the public’s acceptance of the campaign, like a fire that’s been doused in gasoline, even within the police institution itself. Selecting social media to be the main form of media in the Gecko versus Crocodile campaign was not only based on the high number of social media users in Indonesia, but also on its simplicity which allows anyone who sees the campaign to invite interaction/direct response from others.

By simply replacing their profile picture and posting a “link” that explains the purpose of the logo/image of the Gecko versus Crocodile to other Facebook accounts, the campaign was able to invite tens of thousands of questions from respective social networks, which eventually resulted in people changing their profile pictures as a form of support.

The same process was repeated and continued to spread on a larger scale in a short period of time.

Situation & Circumstances
The corruption case itself might not be the only reason why the campaign triggered such a positive response, but it was certainly an integral part of the “humiliation” that arose out of the National Police Criminal Investigations Commission at the time.

Regardless of the case, there was no precedence which indicated that the Indonesian people would stay silent if they were ever insulted or denigrated. An example of another case that received a positive response is the case of Prita. Within a short period of time, Prita managed to gain a lot of support both in the virtual and real world in the form of coin collections. A key factor in the success of an online campaign is timing, and there are sometimes a variety of responses which can strengthen the spread and message of the campaign.

The case of Evan Brimob for example, was once a phenomenon in the virtual world. Evan made the statement; “police do not need people, it is people who need police” on his Facebook account. The statement spread widely just days after the Gecko versus Crocodile campaign had enlivened the internet, and gained a tremendous response from users in Indonesia at that time. Evan’s response, which may initially have been a representation of his loyalty as a member of the police, helped to reinforce the Gecko versus Crocodile campaign, like pouring gasoline on the burning fire.

Ways of Spreading Information
The online campaign probably wouldn’t have succeeded without being supported by an offline campaign, and would’ve gone nowhere if the spread hadn’t been supported by the existing mainstream media.
There are several factors that contributed towards the success of the online campaign in terms of content, including:

The campaign’s content was simple and specific i.e. focused on a particular issue. The more simple and specific a campaign is, the easier it is accepted;
The campaign’s content targeted more than one group of people, in order to convey a more powerful message;
The content of the online campaign was repetitive, and delivered through either the same media or other media. Repeating the same message many times will reinforce the message, allow for improvement (updates) and open up opportunities for input from the user.

The Gecko versus Crocodile campaign managed to get the attention of dozens of local and international media outlets, both printed and electronic. It was recorded by tens of news agencies (local and international), and covered by thousands of websites and blogs. Offline support from various NGOs including Transparency International Indonesia (TII) and Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) in realizing the mass action ranged from declarations to action; “one million supporters of Chandra Bibit” was one of the most crucial parts of the campaign. Since the offline campaign was the only link to the online campaign, the virtual movement became a real movement.

Up to this day, the term Gecko versus Crocodile is still relevant and used whenever there is any form of public resistance against the authorities.

Keihin FCR 28 Sudco 2 Mar 2014 1:23 AM (12 years ago)

Bad Politics 3.0 1 Mar 2014 9:31 AM (12 years ago)

Setelah hampir dua tahun mencoba ngoprek motor kesayangan, Yamaha Scorpio 2007 ini akhirnya dipegang oleh modifikator senior mas Donny dari Hantu Laut Jakarta. Dibawah ini urutan foto motor yang punya nama "Bad Politics" dimulai dari awal sebelum di rombak total oleh mas Donny.

Apa aja yang diganti?

Semuanya :)

1/2 Frame lama dibelah dan dilurusin lagi.
Tangki yang lama dibuang, diganti dengan tangki Yamaha RD yang di modifikasi.
Shok depan (yg upside-down dibuang dan diganti shok orisinilnya Scorpio.
Stang lama dibuang, diganti stang jepit.
Ban depan 100/80 Battlax, diganti sama FDR 110/80, karena yang lama kurang lebar dan tebal.
Kabel-kabel lama dibuang semua, diganti sama wiring baru supaya bisa lebih rapih kabel-kabelnya. Headlight lama (orinya scorpio) dibuang, diganti sama headlight custom.
Knalpot after market yang lama juga dibuang, diganti sama knalpot custom.

Setelah dua tahun, akhirnya elektrik starternya jalan :)

Overall, The bike feels lighter and slightly feels faster and much easier to handle...and it's also looks better.

Gold Digger vs CEO of JP Morgan 16 Feb 2014 10:07 PM (12 years ago)

This might be the best thing I’ve seen in a while:

A reply from CEO of J.P. Morgan to a pretty girl seeking a rich husband A young and pretty lady posted this on a popular forum:

Title: What should I do to marry a rich guy?

I’m going to be honest of what I’m going to say here. I’m 25 this year. I’m very pretty, have style and good taste. I wish to marry a guy with $500k annual salary or above. You might say that I’m greedy, but an annual salary of $1M is considered only as middle class in New York.

My requirement is not high.

Is there anyone in this forum who has an income of $500k annual salary? Are you all married? I wanted to ask: what should I do to marry rich persons like you?

Among those I’ve dated, the richest is $250k annual income, and it seems that this is my upper limit.
If someone is going to move into high cost residential area on the west of New York City Garden(?), $250k annual income is not enough.

I’m here humbly to ask a few questions:

1) Where do most rich bachelors hang out? (Please list down the names and addresses of bars, restaurant, gym)
2) Which age group should I target?
3) Why most wives of the riches are only average-looking? I’ve met a few girls who don’t have looks and are not interesting, but they are able to marry rich guys.
4) How do you decide who can be your wife, and who can only be your girlfriend? (my target now is to get married)

Ms. Pretty

A philosophical reply from CEO of J.P. Morgan:

Dear Ms. Pretty,

I have read your post with great interest. Guess there are lots of girls out there who have similar questions like yours. Please allow me to analyse your situation as a professional investor. My annual income is more than $500k, which meets your requirement, so I hope everyone believes that I’m not wasting time here.

From the standpoint of a business person, it is a bad decision to marry you. The answer is very simple, so let me explain. Put the details aside, what you’re trying to do is an exchange of “beauty" and “money" : Person A provides beauty, and Person B pays for it, fair and square.

However, there’s a deadly problem here, your beauty will fade, but my money will not be gone without any good reason. The fact is, my income might increase from year to year, but you can’t be prettier year after year. Hence from the viewpoint of economics, I am an appreciation asset, and you are a depreciation asset. It’s not just normal depreciation, but exponential depreciation.

If that is your only asset, your value will be much worse 10 years later. By the terms we use in Wall Street, every trading has a position, dating with you is also a “trading position". If the trade value dropped we will sell it and it is not a good idea to keep it for long term - same goes with the marriage that you wanted.

It might be cruel to say this, but in order to make a wiser decision any assets with great depreciation value will be sold or “leased". Anyone with over $500k annual income is not a fool; we would only date you, but will not marry you.

I would advice that you forget looking for any clues to marry a rich guy. And by the way, you could make yourself to become a rich person with $500k annual income.This has better chance than finding a rich fool. Hope this reply helps.

signed,
J.P. Morgan CEO

Kiss Slowly... 16 Feb 2014 5:43 AM (12 years ago)

The Caja Oscura 15 Aug 2013 10:05 PM (12 years ago)

One More Year 9 Apr 2013 4:37 PM (13 years ago)

The Last of Us, amazing and intense 4 Jun 2012 11:56 PM (13 years ago)

Watch Dog....a different kind of sandbox 4 Jun 2012 11:39 PM (13 years ago)

1000 boobs?? 9 Apr 2012 10:48 PM (14 years ago)

Just a CB750 8 Apr 2012 9:09 PM (14 years ago)

God Bless America 5 Apr 2012 1:56 AM (14 years ago)

Kebohongan Yang (hampir) Sempurna 2 Apr 2012 6:38 AM (14 years ago)

Seminggu ini seluruh bangsa diselimuti dengan amarah dan emosi atas rencana pemerintah untuk mencabut subsidi BBM sebesar Rp.1500 pada bulan April. Para politikus berlomba mencari simpati dan perhatian dengan manuver-manuver politiknya. Ada yang elegan dan ada juga yang kampungan.

Para ahli hukum sibuk membahas pasal demi pasal dan ayat demi ayat dari RAPBN sampai membahas pula kaitannya dengan putusan judicial review Mahkamah Konstitusi yang terkait dengan MIGAS bahkan sampai ke UUD 1945.

Banyak yang bilang "pemerintah boleh mengatur harga BBM", dan banyak juga yang bilang tidak boleh.

Mereka bisa berdebat sampai keriting, karena menurut saya kita sekali lagi dibuat percaya pada satu-dua hal sampai kita lupa pada hal yang ada di depan mata.

Begini.

Dari awal semenjak dicetuskannya rencana untuk "mencabut subsidi" BBM yang ada di kepala saya adalah; "apa boleh pemerintah memutuskan begitu saja untuk mencabut subsidi BBM?"

Kata mencabut ini kemudian diubah dengan kata "mengurangi subsidi", dan ini diucapkan langsung oleh menteri ESDM dalam acara ILC. Dia bilang,"...pemerintah tidak mungkin mencabut subsidi, tapi mengurangi."

Kemudian wakil menterinya sibuk dengan segala macam data statistik yang dimilikinya, yang intinya untuk mengatakan bahwa "kita harus menyerahkan harga BBM kita kepada harga pasar"....kalau tidak negara akan rugi besar.

Kemudian masuklah pembahasan baru soal "mekanisme pasar", "ICP", "cadangan minyak", "import-eksport" dan lain-lain yang digabungkan kedalam persoalan "pengurangan subsidi BBM" ini, yang menguatkan argumen pemerintah soal betapa pentingnya dan urgent-nya untuk "mengurangi subsidi" BBM tersebut.

Menteri bahkan sangat bersemangat ketika mengatakan rencananya untuk mengalihkan penggunaan BBM bersubsidi ke BBG. Ini sama saja bilang, "jangan minum minuman keras, ganti saja dengan merokok".

Masyarakat kemudian dibuat terkesima sekaligus terkejut dengan pernyataan bahwa "pengurangan subsidi" ini akan diperuntukkan bagi kalangan masyarakat tertentu, kemudian untuk penaikan besaran BLT dan ketakutan akan "jebolnya" APBN 2012 nanti apabila subsidi BBM ini tidak "dikurangi".

Semua informasi, data dan pernyataan ini digabung secara brutal dalam satu argumen dan disiarkan secara tidak konsisten oleh para wakil pemerintah bahkan presiden kita sendiri.

Kemudian menjelang sidang paripurna DPR, kata "pencabutan" dan "pengurangan" subsidi ini mulai diganti dengan "harga pasar" atau "kenaikan harga" karena desakan pasar. Sampai akhirnya dituangkan dalam RAPBN pasal 7, ayat 6 (a) dengan segala macam drama politiknya, tidak ada satupun kata terucap terutama dalam sidang paripurna soal "pencabutan" atau "pengurangan" subsidi BBM. Yang ada adalah kenyataan bahwa pemerintah bisa menaikan atau menurunkan harga BBM apabila ada perubahan harga pasar sebesar 15% dlam waktu 6 bulan.

Lantas kenapa pemerintah mengkoreksi statemen-statemen awal mereka, yang berubah dari menyerang subsidi ke pasrah terhadap mekanisme pasar?

Ini hanya bahasa politik saja. Alasannya simple, yaitu karena pemerintah terlihat lebih "baik" di mata rakyatnya ketika mengatakan bahwa, "bukan kami yang salah bensin ini harganya naik, karena penyebabnya adalah mekanisme pasar (orang lain), bukan kami".
Walaupun simple, efek dari pernyataan ini sangat hebat bahkan saya sempat teralihkan perhatiannya dan ikut membahas soal ICP sampai production cost dari minyak mentah menjadi bensin.

Bahkan saya sempat percaya bahwa pemerintah telah melakukan hal yang tepat dalam keputusannya untuk menaikkan harga BBM bersubsidi ini.

Tapi bukan itu isunya, isunya adalah kita sudah dibohongi....dengan cerdik :)

Fakta yang kita lupa adalah:

Pertama, BBM bersubsidi itu BUKAN/TIDAK SAMA dengan bensin sekelas Pertamax, Shell, Total atau Petronas. BBM bersubsidi hanya dijual di dalam negeri saja dan memiliki kualitas dibawah BBM yang dipasarkan secara Internasional (pasar). Ini berarti, apabila argumen pemerintah untuk menaikan harga BBM bersubsidi (premium) karena desakan pasar ini tidak tepat karena pasarnya premium ini cuma di dalam negeri.
Ini sama saja dengan menjual bajigur tapi membandingkannya dengan kopi.

Kedua, keputusan Mahkamah Konstitusi tentang Judicial Review UU Migas bukanlah membahas soal "pencabutan" atau "pengurangan" subsidi BBM (premium) namun lebih menjurus ke pengaturan persaingan usaha antara produk BBM lokal dengan produk BBM asing, yang menyatakan bahwa pemerintah bisa menentukan harga jual BBM tersebut di dalam negeri.
Ini diperlukan karena dengan masuknya produk BBM asing merubah pasar yang tadinya di monopoli oleh Pertamina berubah menjadi persaingan mutlak.

Ketiga, Janji pemerintah untuk menggunakan pendapatan dari "pengurangan" subsidi ini untuk berbagai hal yang berkaitan dengan kesejahteraan rakyat seperti BLT, Pendidikan dan lain-lain. Sekarang begini, apabila kenaikan BBM bersubsidi ini karena atas dasar pengaruh mekanisme pasar, berarti selisih jumlah antara harga awal (sebelum naik) dan setelah naik yang harusnya untuk "kesejahteraan" ini tidak mungkin ada.

Ini ibaratnya seperti toko beras. Pemilik toko biasa menjual beras seharga Rp.50.000/kilo (misalnya), kemudian ia terpaksa "menaikan" harga karena harga beli beras di daerahnya naik sebesar Rp.5000/kilo. (bisa karena banyak faktor).

Tidak mungkin penjual tetap menjual berasnya dengan harga awal, karena akan rugi;
Tidak mungkin juga selisih Rp.5000 tersebut digunakan untuk keperluan lain atau disimpan, karena selisih tersebut BUKAN PROFIT melainkan memang perubahan harga;

Bagaimana mungkin pemerintah bisa beralasan bahwa selisih dari kenaikan harga tersebut bisa dijadikan pemasukan negara untuk keperluan lain?

Jadi bisa disimpulkan bahwa, satu-satunya cara pemerintah untuk memperoleh/mendapatkan pemasukan negara untuk kepentingan-kepentingan lain HANYA DARI PENGURANGAN SUBSIDI. Hitungannya begini:

Anggap saja harga BBM bersubsidi (premium) ini tanpa subsidi adalah Rp.10.000/liter. Dan karena katanya premium tersebut sebagian kita import maka saya asumsikan sudah sesuai dengan harga pasar. Kemudian besaran subsidi pemerintah adalah Rp. 4.500/liter, sehingga rakyat bisa membeli premium seharga Rp. 5.500/liter.

Apabila harga pasar naik sebesar Rp.1.500/liter, maka harga premium sebelum disubsidi "bisa" naik menjadi Rp. 11.500/liter (Rp. 10.000 + Rp. 1.500 = Rp. 11.500/liter). Negara sama sekali tidak memperoleh sepeserpun profit dari selisih ini;
Apabila negara tidak menaikan harga jual premium, maka jelas negara akan rugi sebesar Rp. 1.500/liter bensin. Silakan kalikan saja dengan berapa juta liter jumlahnya....hasilnya pasti triliun :)
Sekali lagi, kenaikan harga dan besaran subsidi adalah dua hal yang berbeda;
Jadi caranya pemerintah menutup loss tersebut tanpa pengaruh pasar adalah dengan mengurangi besaran subsidi sebesar Rp. 1.500/liter. hitungannnya : Rp. 10.000 - (Rp. 4.500 - Rp. 1.500) = Rp. 6.500/liter. Jadi masyarakat akan membeli premium dengan harga Rp. 6.500/liter.
Karena pemerintah sedang butuh uang, kemungkinan besar adalah untuk belanja birokrat, dan tidak mungkin mengambil profit dari selisih harga (karena tidak ada) maka satu-satunya cara pemerintah memperoleh "profit" adalah BUKAN dari menaikan harga jual BBM melainkan dari PENGURANGAN BESARAN SUBSIDI.

Ini artinya, pemerintah tetap harus menombok selisih Rp.1.500/liter dari pembelian sesuai harga pasar, dan rakyat juga kehilangan subsidi sebesar Rp.1.500/liter tersebut yang kita tidak tahu secara pasti akan dipakai untuk apa.

Terakhir, menurut BPS kelas masyarakat yang berhak untuk menikmati subsidi BBM itu adalah mereka yang berpenghasilan Rp. 250.000/bulan, ini adalah masyarakat yang dikategorikan sebagai miskin (sekitar 15% dari jumlah penduduk). Menurut saya penafsiran ini keliru, karena Rp. 250.000/bulan itu sangat-sangat-luar biasa rendah. Bagaimana mungkin pemerintah bisa menafsirkan bahwa kelompok masyarakat yang memiliki penghasilan diatas Rp.250.000 itu digolongkan sebagai masyarakat "kelas menengah"??

Seorang blogger berpendapat, "seandainya pemerintah mau fair, harusnya yang dikategorikan sebagai masyarakat "kelas menengah" ukurannya adalah kartu kredit". Karena bank mensyaratkan untuk memiliki kartu kredit penghasilan minimal adalah Rp.30.000.000/tahun (sekitar Rp. 2,5 juta/bulan), maka ini adalah batas paling cocok untuk "kelas menengah" tersebut. Atau bisa kita bilang kelompok masyarakat yang tidak terpengaruh dengan pengurangan subsidi BBM ini secara financial.

Sesungguhnya apabila pemerintah menggunakan ukuran kartu kredit tersebut, ada kemungkinan jumlah "masyarakat miskin" di Indonesia akan mencapai lebih dari 60%.
Karena sebagian besar masyarakat di Indonesia tidak berpenghasilan Rp. 30 juta/tahun ditambah fakta bahwa Indonesia adalah negara tertinggi kedua di Asia dalam angka pengangguran.

Bisa disimpulkan bahwa lebih dari 70% masyarakat Indonesia akan terkena dampak secara ekonomi (terasa bebannya) atas "pengurangan subsidi" tersebut, terutama masyarakat miskin.

Menurut undang-undang pemerintah punya wewenang untuk menaikan atau menurunkan harga jual BBM, baik yang bersubsidi maupun yang tidak dengan sejuta alasan (politik dan ekonomi). Namun pemerintah tidak boleh begitu saja mengambil, mengurangi atau bahkan mencabut subsidi yang telah diberikan kepada rakyatnya.

Dalam kondisi ekonomi yang terpuruk sekalipun, seperti di Yunani, Amerika dan sebagian negara eropa lain, pemerintah mengambil kebijakan ekonomi lain seperti bea, pajak, pinjaman dan piutang negara bahkan sampai penjualan aset negara. Tapi tidak menyentuh segala sesuatu yang sifatnya subsidi atau tunjangan, seperti Health Care, Social Security dan pendidikan, karena akan berpampak langsung pada kesejahteraan masyarakatnya.

Di Indonesia kita tidak memiliki ketiga macam tunjangan seperti diatas, tapi pemerintah memberikan berbagai subsidi, mulai dari beras, sampai dengan BBM yang secara kasar memiliki tujuan yang sama, yaitu "memberikan benefit kepada warga negaranya".

Jadi sejauh ini, yang saya tangkap adalah:

Pemerintah butuh uang karena perlu menutup sekitar 50% pengeluaran APBN untuk belanja birokrat;
Pemerintah memang berencana akan menghilangkan BBM bersubsidi (premium) dari pasar dalam negeri;
Pemerintah butuh alasan untuk mengambil uang tersebut;
Tidak bisa mengambil dari selisih jual/beli (import) BBM karena memang tidak ada profit;
Satu-satunya cara yaitu dengan mengurangi subsidinya;
Membuat alasan/argumen perihal kondisi ekonomi, mekanisme pasar, kesejahteraan dan "masyarakat miskin" supaya kita bingung;
Kemungkinan besar janji-janji yang berkaitan dengan peningkatan kesejahteraan ini tidak akan terealisasi;
Peralihan dari BBM ke BBG, kemungkinan besar akan gagal karena faktor biaya investasi dan infrastruktur yang belum memadai;
Mulai dengan investasi pembangunan kilang minyak baru di dalam negeri dan pengembangan energi alternatif.

Apabila memang ternyata negara kita sedang krisis ekonomi dan bahan bakar, Saya rasa cara yang paling memungkinkan (walaupun agak sadis) yaitu dengan menghilangkan BBM bersubsidi (premium) dari pasar dalam negeri. Tapi hal tersebut harus didukung dengan, perbaikan infrastruktur dan fasilitas transportasi publik/masal. Perbaikan tunjangan kesehatan dan pendidikan dan sama sekali tidak digunakan untuk belanja birokrat/negara.

Dengan begini kebutuhan konsumsi BBM dalam negeri akan berkurang secara drastis dan tidak mempengaruhi terhadap kesejahteraan warga negaranya.

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The Bad Politics 12 Mar 2011 3:47 AM (15 years ago)

Nope...tulisan ini bukan untuk menceritakan kebusukan politisi Indonesia....yang ini jauh lebih baik.

Ini tentang motor gue yang gue kasih nama "the Bad Politics"

Sudah lebih dari tiga tahun saya memimpikan membangun motor yang bernafaskan "cafe racer". Setelah nabung selama bertahun-tahun (baca: lebay) nah akhirnya kesempatan datang juga. Kebeli juga Yamaha Scorpio tahun 2006...dan motor ini sudah dalam kondisi dimonif dengan aliran "jap style"...oleh seorang biker dari "Street Demon" Bandung yang bernama Kikis.....ini motornya:

Bukannya gue enggak suka "jap style"....tapi karena emang udah ngebet model cafe racer...ya apa boleh buat....disain harus dirombak....total.

Setelah melalui beberapa kali gonta-ganti ide disain...banyak terinspirasi dari www.bikeexif.com, akhirnya gue nekat merubah total motor tersebut....tentunya dengan biaya yang "masuk akal"

Step pertama: mengganti ban belakang dari ukuran standar 110 R18 ke 160 R17.... beli velg buat scorpio yang lebar tapi jari-jari itu susah-susah gampang...akhirnya dapet velg untuk supermoto merk Techno dengan 28 jari (harga Rp. 450 ribu)....ban Bridgestone Batlax 092 , 160 x 60 (harga Rp.900 ribu).

Setelah itu...karena swing arm scorpio yang asli tidak bisa muat ban lebar 160, gue harus beli swing arm after market yang baru. Menurut gue lebih bagus daripada beli limbah moge. Pertama barangnya baru...dan lebih murah.
Gue dapet swing arm Pro-Performance buatan Thailand...dengan harga Rp. 450 ribu. Bagus dan sudah ada stabilizernya.

Pas beli swing arm ini...gue hampir ditipu oleh toko onderdil iblis...yang nawarin arm merk "kumis"....yang ternyata ngujubilah PALSU abis dengan harga Rp.550 ribu. gue sempat sudah beli kumis palsu ini...dan karena engga yakin sama sekali...akhirnya gue balikin dan minta uang gue kembali....dasar toko busuk....masa bikin arm las-lasannya kaya di lem pake nasi.

But anyway...gue akhirnya beli merk Pro-performance...langsung klop dan sangat kokoh.
Beberapa aksesoris yang ikutan latah kebeli antara lain: handle bar (fat bar), spion model ujung handle bar (dapet di Bumping Kulture Tebet), footstep underbone....busuk...enggak kepake, dan satu set lampu sein depan dan belakang. (total biaya Rp.410 ribu).

Walaupun banyak yang melarang gue untuk memotong chasis motor...tapi karena udah keukeuh pingin model cafe racer....nothing can stop me now.

Berikut ini gambar motornya sedang di kerjakan:

Sampai saat ini keadaan motornya masih setengah jadi...tinggal nunggu pengerjaan tangki motor dan jok motornya...tapi motornya sudah bisa dipakai jalan-jalan.

Kalau nanti selesai kira-kira bentuknya akan seperti gambar paling bawah
Dengan tangki bensin warna merah...dan tulisan "Bad Politics" disampingnya.

Si Koboy Soleh View RSS