THE middle-aged man was seen posing in a BMW Jetlee in a car showroom. Dressed in a metallic suit and wearing a colorful tie, his hands were tightly gripped on the steering wheel of the car that cost almost Rp1 billion. He was smiling from ear to ear. He was not a celebrity, but a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) of a nation ravaged by crisis.

This is typical of many DPR members: stylish clothes, shining cars and a large pay pack