Abdurrahman denies plan to purchase plane<\/p>\n
NEW YORK (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid denied here on
\nWednesday he was planning to purchase a presidential airplane
\nfrom Boeing.<\/p>\n
"I do not have any plans to purchase the plane. We do not have
\nthe money for that," Abdurrahman, who is in New York to attend
\nthe UN-organized Millennium Summit, said.<\/p>\n
He admitted, however, that during a refueling stop in Seattle
\nearlier in the week, executives of Boeing, the world's largest
\naerospace company, offered him the opportunity to purchase a
\nBoeing 737-800.<\/p>\n
The head of the presidential palace protocol office, Wahyu
\nMuryadi, said on Monday the President was planning to buy the
\nplane.<\/p>\n
Wahyu said at the time the purchase would ease the burden on
\nnational flag-carrier Garuda Indonesia, which often must
\nrearrange its flight schedules due to presidential trips.<\/p>\n
The statement triggered criticism from legislators, who said
\nthe people were in urgent need of rice, not a private airplane.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Rizal Ramli said the
\npurchase of a presidential airplane from Boeing might not be such
\na bad idea.<\/p>\n
"I think we agree with the planned purchase ... from an
\nefficiency point of view, the wide-bodied jet currently used by
\nthe President could be used for commercial purposes," Ramli said
\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The Boeing 737-800 jetliner, which comes with a price tag of
\nbetween US$50 and $60 million, is one of the newest offerings
\nfrom the Seattle-based company. It includes high-tech, vertical
\nwinglets that can extend the airplane's range and fuel
\nefficiency.<\/p>\n
Since becoming President 11 months ago, Abdurrahman has
\nangered legislators and political foes by traveling to more than
\n35 countries on official visits. (prb\/byg)<\/p>",
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