Leaders ask Kwik, Sofyan to patch up their dispute<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The country's top leaders called on Coordinating
\nMinister for Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie and
\nNational Business Development Council (DPUN) chairman Sofyan
\nWanandi on Monday to quickly settle their dispute.<\/p>\n
\"When there is friction, it is expected to be solved without
\nfrenzy, because the impression resulting from it will be
\ndiscouraging. I think this problem (conflict) was also discussed
\njust now,\" foreign minister Alwi Shihab said after meeting with
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
Alwi said the spat was one of other key issues discussed
\nduring the meeting between the President, People's Consultative
\nAssembly speaker Amien Rais, House of Representatives (DPR)
\nspeaker Akbar Tandjung and respected Muslim scholar Nurcholish
\nMadjid.<\/p>\n
\"It (the meeting) was not meant to reconcile them, but to
\ncreate a calm atmosphere,\" Alwi replied when asked whether the
\nleaders wanted to mediate in the dispute between Kwik and Sofyan.<\/p>\n
Kwik reportedly threatened to resign from the Cabinet on
\nFriday, very upset at allegations that his son Inghie Kwik was
\ninvolved in negotiations for the acquisition of PT Humpuss
\nTerminal Petikemas with Hutchison Port Holdings of Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
Kwik and Sofyan have often been involved in exchanges of harsh
\nwords and criticisms. Kwik once cynically described the DPUN as
\nan agency to embezzle debts, while Sofyan lashed out at Kwik for
\nattacking conglomerates too much.<\/p>\n
\"Actually there is no problem (between them),\" Alwi said in an
\napparent effort to scale down the dispute between the President's
\nmen.<\/p>\n
Alwi hosted the closed-door meeting at his private residence
\nin Kemang, South Jakarta, on Monday morning without any
\npublicity.<\/p>\n
When asked why the meeting was held at his residence, Alwi
\nsaid it was aimed at avoiding gossip and unnecessary speculation.<\/p>\n
Alwi also said the President had called on World Bank
\nPresident James Wolfenson during the meeting to reiterate the
\ngovernment's commitment to the bank and the International
\nMonetary Fund. (prb)<\/p>",
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