Rubbish (Sampah)
“The real problem in Bali at the moment is rubbish (sampah),” comes an opinion from one of the palm toddy association members.
“Sampah? What do you mean by sampah? It is sampah masyarakat (bad people) you are referring to, such as criminals, gigolos, drug dealers? If so, it’s not a big problem. It’s easy to get rid of them,” says I Made Ulah ALuh Asal Elah ( Never Take Problem As Serious Matter).
“Criminal? It’s easy: you just shoot them down. It’s no use if you just bust them. They are very clever. Even though are in prison, they still have access to attend seminars and workshop with their criminal friends and even exchange ideas. In prison, they get good meals, they don’t need to go to work, no need to cooperate with the community, nor pay tax. What they do just to discuss and do exercises. So once they are free, they become cleverer have good body.”
Just shoot them down. Kill them. If they take people’s money, seize all their wealth. By shooting them down, lots of money can be saved; no need to waste time for long and boring trials, no need to feed them in jails,” says I Made.
Other ‘sampah masyarakat’ such as prostitutes is much easier to deal with. Just put them in one place. Now they are in many different places; some are by the schools, some of them work in beauty salons. That’s probably why HIVS/AIDS disease is difficult to control.
“If hey are in one place, it will be much easier to control. Their health can be controlled as well. The revenue from parking and commission from the girls can be used for the village to renovate their meeting hall or temple. We will get used to doing this: we will hold cockfights and other types of gambling for fund-raising and use the money for renovating temples, etc. It’s common in Bali that we use ‘dirty money’ for ‘holy purpose’” adds I Made.
“How dare you say like that, Made. What we are talking about is the ‘sampah’ (rubbish), not ‘sampah masyarakat’ (bad people),” comments I Putu Nyak Punyah Sing Nyak Mayah (Drink A Lot But Pay Less).
I Made laughs loudly because I Putu reminds him of Sigingsul, a member of Da-Makorat political party. Sigingsul often says that his party never makes mistake. If something is wrong with political and economical situation, it should be other parties’ mistakes not his.
“Well, rubbish is much easier to deal with. Rubbish is a ‘dead thing’. Whatever you do to it, it would never complain.”
“And Balinese are famous in dealing with problems. They have ‘Tri Hita Karana’ concept. As long as you do offerings (aci-aci) properly, everything will be fine.”
“Every Balinese ‘seems’ to know about ‘Tri Hita Karana’. The high ranking officials always mention it in their speeches. Even hotels sometimes hold ‘Tri Hita Karana Awards’. So what else are you worried about?
I Made might forget that ‘Tri Hita Karana’ is ‘similar’ to rubbish. It’s a dead thing’ too. If you only say it just to impress people without taking any concrete actions, then rubbish problem will never be solved.
