Put Ethics Before Desire for Power, Former Australian Deputy PM Says

Jakarta Globe, December 03, 2011

Former Australia Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson at Pelita
Harapan University on Friday.

          

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Despite an often uneasy relationship between politics and ethics, future leaders must put morality before the lust for power, former Australian Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson told young Indonesians on Friday.

In the face of global financial crisis and political uncertainties, more and more people have abandoned moral values and sold their integrity, Anderson said in a public lecture hosted by Pelita Harapan University (UPH).

He recalled a time when he was a junior member of the Australian Parliament and was asked by a fellow lawmaker to go for a drive.

“I noticed that the mileage indicator on the dashboard was blank. He was hiding it. He said ‘I do have many journeys but I don’t see the true mileage,’ ” Anderson told the audience of more than 200 students. “I could never put my trust in people who showed this kind of attitude.”

Anderson, 55, served as deputy prime minister from 1999 to 2005. He was acting prime minister during the December 2004 tsunami that devastated Aceh, when he secured more than $1 billion in aid for Indonesia.

In June 2005 he resigned from his ministerial position and as leader of the rural-based National Party for health reasons.

Speaking about the media, he said that while outlets were always keen boost the audience, the press could promote integrity among the young generation.

“The press in the country needs to reward integrity, otherwise you will discourage good people from trying,” he said, when asked about corruption in Indonesia.

UPH President Gary Miller said that Indonesians were provided with an abundance of news about scandals and corruption involving government officials and businesspeople.