Strong reactions greet Lee's Asia crisis comment<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's
\nremark that Asia's financial crisis could worsen if the market
\nwas uncomfortable with Indonesia's next vice president was met
\nwith strong reactions here yesterday.<\/p>\n
The strongest reaction came from State Minister of Research
\nand Technology B.J. Habibie, one of several figures who covet the
\nvice-presidential post.<\/p>\n
Habibie, responding to a legislator's question at a hearing of
\nthe House of Representatives here yesterday, said the country's
\nnational leaders could not be chosen by the market.<\/p>\n
"How could the country's choice of its national leaders be
\ndictated by the trading of dollars and stocks in Singapore
\nmarkets. Give me a break," he told House Commission VIII for
\nbudget, finance, research and technology affairs.<\/p>\n
Habibie was asked by legislator Ekki Sjachrudin of the
\ndominant Golkar faction for his views on Lee's comment.<\/p>\n
Lee, who led Singapore for 31 years until 1990, was quoted as
\nsaying that market unhappiness with an Indonesian vice-president
\nwould lead to higher inflation, more companies going bankrupt and
\ngreater unemployment.<\/p>\n
News that Habibie might be the preferred candidate for the
\nsecond top post caused a sharp fall in the value of the rupiah
\nlast month, news reports said.<\/p>\n
"The resulting social problems will be widespread," Lee said.<\/p>\n
"It is vital to Indonesia that the rupiah is stabilized and
\nthe stock market begins to recover. Otherwise, the fallout would
\nbe bad for Indonesia and may again spread panic over the region,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Habibie said the market situation and its response could not
\nbe used as a dipstick in the selection of national leaders and
\nendorsement of State Guidelines during the People's Consultative
\nAssembly's General Session next month.<\/p>\n
He said Lee could be wrong.<\/p>\n
"However, I should tell you journalists, that I regard Pak Lee
\na very wise statesman and someone who has done much for his
\ncountry," Habibie said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, some 20 angry people briefly picketed the
\nSingaporean embassy here yesterday to demonstrate their disgust
\nfor Lee's remarks.<\/p>\n
The young people shouted and waved anti-Lee placards for
\nseveral minutes before police arrived and caught a protester
\nkicking the embassy's gate.<\/p>\n
The man was soon released and all the protesters got back into
\nthe truck they arrived in. They did not attempt to hand over a
\nletter of protest or speak to embassy officials.<\/p>\n
The Singapore embassy could not be reached for comment
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Also airing an anti-Lee protest yesterday was the Center for
\nInformation and Development Studies, a think-tank of the
\nIndonesian Moslem Intellectuals Association (ICMI) chaired by
\nHabibie.<\/p>\n
"Lee's comment has hurt the nations' sense of sovereignty...
\nas if the country's national leadership could be dictated by
\nothers," it said in a statement. (emf\/aan)<\/p>",
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