Bambang refuses to be silenced by critics<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Although his political career currently lies in
\nthe balance, outspoken Golkar legislator Bambang Warih Koesoemo
\ncontinued to lash out in various directions yesterday.<\/p>\n
As he awaits President Soeharto's decision on Golkar's demand
\nthat he be removed from the House of Representatives (DPR),
\nBambang yesterday denounced the domestic political situation in
\nIndonesia today.<\/p>\n
He criticized the government's handling of the ailing
\nstrategic industries, known as Badan Pengelola Industri Strategis
\n(BPIS), headed by State Minister for Research and Technology B.J.
\nHabibie.<\/p>\n
\"Now, this problem is a cause for tears...you really need to
\ncry over this,\" he told The Jakarta Post during a \"farewell
\ndinner\" with Jakarta-based political reporters.<\/p>\n
Habibie said on Monday that five firms, including state
\naircraft maker IPTN and shipmaker PT PAL, had lost money, were
\ninefficient and could be closed if they did not obtain export
\ncredits to bolster their overseas sales.<\/p>\n
Finance Minister Mar'ie Muhammad has ruled out providing
\nexport credits for the industries, saying the government cannot
\nafford it.<\/p>\n
On Habibie's stance on the issue, Bambang said: \"I was really
\ndisappointed when Habibie said (during the hearing) that the IPTN
\nshould just be closed down.\"<\/p>\n
\"Why did he say that, after we have invested millions of
\ndollars? Didn't he consider, when the industry was started, that
\nwe could not afford to support it with that option?\"<\/p>\n
Speaking about his own problem, Bambang said his dismissal by
\nGolkar, with whom he has served for 27 years, indicates that
\nIndonesian politics have not advanced even after fifty years of
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
\"I'm sad...not for myself, but for this country,\" he told the
\nPost. \"We've been an independent nation for fifty years, and all
\nwe're facing are such basic political problems.\"<\/p>\n
\"I'm sad...we should all be sad and cry,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also expressed disappointment over the fact that his long
\nyears of serving the grouping were wasted overnight. \"It's like
\nmy 27 years of service never existed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said he would not offer his service anymore to Golkar. \"In
\nthis situation... I wouldn't be able to work effectively,\" he
\nsaid. However, \"I have great hopes for this country...there are so
\nmany things to do and to improve.\"<\/p>\n
He promised that he would not lose any of his \"outspokenness\"
\neven if he's no longer actively involved in politics.<\/p>\n
Should he lose his DPR seat, Bambang said he would concentrate
\non his consultancy business, which promotes investment from
\nEurope to Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bambang-refuses-to-be-silenced-by-critics-1447893297",
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