House concerned about strategic industries<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Legislators expressed concern yesterday about
\nthe future of Indonesia's strategic industries in the wake of the
\neconomic crisis.<\/p>\n
In a hearing with head of the Management Board of Strategic
\nIndustries B.J. Habibie here yesterday, members of House
\nCommission VIII for research and technology cited aircraft maker
\nPT IPTN and ship manufacturer PT PAL as two of the industries
\nthey feared could be affected by the turmoil.<\/p>\n
Tayo Tarmadi from the Armed Forces faction, Firmansyah Wuisan
\nfrom Golkar, and Soelaiman Biyahimo from the United Development
\nParty (PPP) faction were among the legislators who presented
\nHabibie with a barrage of questions about the industries.<\/p>\n
Tayo, for instance, asked when IPTN would reach its break-even
\npoint, while Soelaiman asked about the financial state of
\nstrategic industries.<\/p>\n
Habibie promised to submit a written statement on the
\nfinancial state of the strategic industries, but said the
\nindustries made a Rp 50.2 billion profit last year.<\/p>\n
Later on, Habibie expressed displeasure about what he
\nconsidered a belittling by a legislator of the National
\nTechnology Day on Aug. 10.<\/p>\n
\"It's really sad if you, people's representatives, look down
\non our own nation's achievement (in technology and scientific
\ndevelopment),\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that technology day, introduced in 1995 with the
\nmaiden flight of the IPTN-made N-250 aircraft, serves to usher
\nIndonesia to an era of high technology.<\/p>\n
Habibie was responding to a remark by Nico Daryanto of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction that not many people
\nare familiar with the day.<\/p>\n
Nico also said that many people are still more familiar with
\nFokker or DC-9 aircraft than with Tetuko or N-250 aircraft.<\/p>\n
Habibie said the IPTN aircraft was proof of Indonesia's
\nachievements.<\/p>\n
\"The aircraft are a result of a technology that we master. It
\ncannot be manipulated. Airplanes do not fly because of laws or
\npolitical statements,\" he said. (09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-concerned-about-strategic-industries-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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