Prosperity test results

Women: Quiet. He's waiting for a call on the results of his prosperity test as minister for humor and jokes in the republic of dreams!

As prospective ministerial candidates anxiously await the results of their wealth reports, the political parties – having now forgotten earlier claims of massive electoral fraud – are tripping over each other trying to curry favour with President Yudhoyono in the hopes of being rewarded with much coveted cabinet seats.

Kompas – October 17, 2009

Health Law

Left: Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari holding Health Law.

Legislators' credibility was further dented when it was discovered that a clause in the newly enacted Health Law identifying tobacco as an addictive substance had mysteriously disappeared. NGO activists argue it was no accident saying tobacco companies had lobbied hard to have the section removed.

Kompas – October 14, 2009

I'm sure it's safe now Mr.

Man: I'm sure it's safe now Mr.

Former People's Welfare Minister and billionaire Aburizal Bakrie, (watering Banyan tree) who has pledged to lift the Golkar Party out of the electoral doldrums, reportedly shelled out around US$500 million to ensure his election as party chairman at Golkar's national congress in early October. Victims of the massive mud flow disaster in East Java caused by his company meanwhile are still waiting for compensation.

Kompas – October 10, 2009

Wait for the 2014 elections

1st man: How come no political party disaster relief coordination posts have appeared?

2nd man: Wait for the 2014 elections.

Thousands of families are still homeless in Padang, West Sumatra, two weeks after a 7.9-magnitude quake hit the province.

Kompas – October 7, 2009

We live in a hotel of a million stars!

Man: So they're staying in five star hotels? Don't be disheartened, we live in a hotel of a million stars!

Newspaper headline: Inauguration of 2009-2014 House of Representative members.

560 new legislators were sworn in on October 1 in a ceremony that cost some US$4.7 million, with a third of this going towards luxury hotel rooms, bus rentals, clothing and bags, plus $200 in pocket money for each legislator.

Kompas – October 3, 2009