A look at the people behind the President's speech
A look at the people behind the President's speech
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid is known to be
rather eloquent, but he is assessed by the People's Consultative
Assembly during its Annual Session could depend on the official
content of the progress report he will deliver on Monday morning.
Just who are the people behind the scenes preparing his
report?
Minister of Mines and Energy Lt. Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono has been recognized as one of the key figures on the
team of Cabinet members and scholars preparing the speech.
According to Susilo, in order to stave off controversy the
address will avoid details, placing emphasis on general policies.
However, he refused to identify the other members of the team
crafting the speech.
"I do not need to disclose their names. What's important is
our output," Susilo said.
But sources said top economists Sri Mulyani Indrawati and
Faisal Basri had been recruited to the team. They are believed to
be in charge of detailing the government's economic record.
Sri Mulyani and Faisal, both members of the National Economics
Council, also have been widely tipped to join the new Cabinet
which will be formed shortly after the Assembly's session.
Sources also said political scientists Affan Gafar and Andi
Mallarangeng, both expert staff to State Minister of Regional
Autonomy Ryas Rasyid, were involved in drafting of the
President's speech.
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman and Minister of Settlement
and Territorial Development Erna Witoelar also participated in
preparing the speech.
A relative of the President said on Friday that Abdurrahman
had vowed not to be confrontational on Monday.
The President angered members of the House of Representatives
last month when he refused to explain during an interpellation
hearing the reasons behind his dismissal of Laksamana Sukardi and
Yusuf Kalla as investment minister and trade and industry
minister, respectively.
"Bapak realizes the confrontation badly tarnished his image.
He will convey an honest report which is based on accurate data,"
said the relative, who is involved in the President's daily
activities.
Susilo and Marzuki also were members of a four-man team which
drafted the President's written reply and apology following the
interpellation session.
The President's speech on Monday, using data from the Central
Bureau of Statistics, will try to convince Assembly members that
despite political instability, the country is on its way to
economic recovery.
According to the bureau's statistics, exports in the first six
months of this year jumped 34.95 percent, including a 27.16
percent hike in non-oil and gas exports, compared to the same
period last year.
The data shows that exports of machinery, electrical
appliances, clothing, processed wood, pulp and children's toys
were the most encouraging compared to other commodities.
The President also is expected to unveil the four pillars of
the economic recovery program for next year, including the
maintenance of macroeconomic stability and the empowerment of
those lower on the economic scale.
The progress report itself is expected to be read on Monday
morning by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri on behalf of the
President. (prb/byg)