Whence come rumors?<\/p>\n
Public concern about the health of President Soeharto has
\napparently been exploited by some people to instill fear into the
\nfinancial markets, leading to the renewed free-fall of the rupiah
\nthese past few days. Rumors about Soeharto's failing health has
\nsent the rupiah plunging, almost by leaps and bounds, touching a
\nrecord low each day. Yesterday, it hit the psychological barrier
\nof Rp 6,000 to the dollar.<\/p>\n
The rumors gained currency in spite of repeated assurances --
\nfirst by his officials, and later by Soeharto himself -- that
\nthere was nothing wrong with his health. The President simply
\nneeded to take a rest for 10 days after a strenuous overseas
\ntrip. The market continued to be jittery nevertheless, and his
\ndecision to cancel a number of foreign trips seemed to lend
\ncredence to the rumors.<\/p>\n
We leave the difficult task to the authorities of
\ninvestigating who started these malicious rumors. But the fact
\nthat the wildest of rumors could impinge on business decisions
\nillustrates the precarious condition of the economy. Public
\nconfidence over the economy -- and some would add over the
\ngovernment's ability to manage the economy -- is at a very low
\nebb, so much so that people are prone to believe rumors more than
\nofficial statements.<\/p>\n
The rumors circulating have ranged from saying that Soeharto
\nwas suffering from flu or a stomach ailment to speculation at one
\npoint that he had even died. The reality is, of course, very
\ndifferent.<\/p>\n
A true soldier and fighter, Soeharto never took the rest as
\nprescribed. He continued to work from his residence, summoning
\nand receiving ministers. He ordered the monetary council to
\nhandle the monetary crisis.<\/p>\n
In short, in spite of doctors' orders to rest, he continued
\nleading the nation the way he has been doing for the last 32
\nyears. This, perhaps, explains in some way the strong public
\nconcern, or fear, for the President's health.<\/p>\n
Soeharto has been the central figure in Indonesia for the past
\nthree decades. He is the only one among his peers still fully
\nactive in government. In the absence of any clear successor, his
\nhealth has naturally become the concern of the people he leads.<\/p>\n
We are reminded of Sukarno, Soeharto's predecessor, in the
\nlast years of his leadership, particularly in 1965 when his
\nhealth also became the talk of the town. The rumors circulating
\nthen said that Sukarno was suffering from kidney problems.
\nSukarno, of course, lived for another five years, but rumors of
\nhis failing health apparently led to the Indonesian Communist
\nParty's (PKI) decision to launch the coup d'etat in September of
\nthat same year which unleashed political turmoil.<\/p>\n
We are drawing an analogy between Soeharto and Sukarno solely
\nfor the purpose of illustrating that a leader is a human being
\nwho is not immune to fatigue and illness, even if the best
\nmedical team the world is on hand to help. It happens to the best
\nof leaders.<\/p>\n
Russian President Boris Yeltsin is currently resting in a
\nsanatorium. George Bush and Ronald Reagan were hospitalized
\nduring their terms as American president. A head of state taking
\na rest is nothing unusual. Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir
\nMohamad took a three-month rest this year and went on a tour of
\nEurope.<\/p>\n
What distinguishes Indonesia from these other countries is the
\npsyche of its people. Even the slightest hint of trouble
\naffecting the health of the Indonesian President has had strong
\nramifications in society. In Sukarno's time, it affected the
\npolitical situation. Today, it is the economy that is taking the
\nbrunt. That, sadly, says a lot about the political culture in
\nthis country.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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