New faces in the cabinet vow to ring the changes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Newly appointed cabinet members charged with
\nrescuing the nation from economic turmoil vowed yesterday to
\nusher in a new era.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Investment\/Chairman of the Investment
\nCoordinating Board Hamzah Haz, one of the new faces, said
\nimproving investor confidence was a top priority.<\/p>\n
\"What is critical now is not only solving the economic
\nproblems but reviving investor confidence deteriorated by the
\nrecent traumatic (political) development,\" he told reporters
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
He said the recent rioting, looting, arson and fears of
\npossible bloodshed had sent foreign investors away.<\/p>\n
Hamzah, a member of the United Development Party (PPP), is one
\nof three cabinet members picked from political parties. Under
\nSoeharto's rule, the cabinet only included people from the
\nmilitary, business circles, and the ruling Golkar grouping.<\/p>\n
Other important priorities include improving business
\nefficiency because only if there is adeptness will foreign
\ninvestors return to Indonesia, he said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Forestry and Plantations Muslimin Nasution,
\nanother new face in the so-called Development Reform Cabinet said
\nthat his main focus was how to provide more employment, basic
\ncommodities and foreign exchange within the forestry and
\nplantation sector.<\/p>\n
\"The sector provides an export opportunity because of its
\ncomparative advantage,\" he said, adding that he would welcome
\nforeign investment as long as it could benefit farmers and low-
\nincome households.<\/p>\n
Muslimin, who replaced Sumahadi, said that he would give
\npriority to realigning the palm oil business as it was linked to
\nthe availability of cooking oil, which is a basic commodity.<\/p>\n
New chairman of the National Development Planning Board
\n(Bappenas) Boediono declined to outline his plans, saying only
\nthat he would strive to ease the economic hardships especially
\nfor low-income families.<\/p>\n
\"Why should I reject the cabinet post. Someone has to solve
\nthe economic hardships of the people,\" the former director of
\nBank Indonesia told reporters.<\/p>\n
Bappenas was previously held by Ginandjar Kartasasmita, who is
\nthe coordinating minister for economy, finance and industry.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar was rumored to have played a major role in shaping
\nHabibie's cabinet lineup.<\/p>\n
Newly appointed food minister AM Saefuddin, who also comes
\nfrom PPP, proposed yesterday that cabinet members opt for Kijang
\nvans instead of Volvo sedans for their official cars to save
\nstate money.<\/p>\n
\"I think the public will agree with this idea.\"<\/p>\n
The money saved through such belt-tightening measures could
\ntop up government funds for food subsidies amid the monetary
\ncrisis, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The government's financial resources have been depleted
\nduring the crisis and it expects only limited revenues in the
\nfuture.\"<\/p>\n
Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin said yesterday a new
\ngovernor was not announced along with the cabinet lineup to
\ndemonstrate the government's commitment to creating a more
\nindependent central bank.<\/p>\n
He, however, declined to comment on whether he would continue
\nto hold the position of governor, saying that he had yet to meet
\nwith the new President.<\/p>\n
According to analysts, the new Bank Indonesia governor would
\nbe appointed by the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Sjahril said the decision to free up the central bank was
\nindicated in a recent decree issued by former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Under an agreement with the IMF last month, Soeharto agreed to
\nsweeping economic reforms including creating an independent Bank
\nIndonesia based on a new central bank law in exchange for a
\nmultibillion dollar bailout package to help lift the country out
\nof its worst economic crisis in three decades. (aly\/jsk)<\/p>",
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