Abdurrahman attacks IMF and Lee Kuan Yew

Abdurrahman attacks IMF and Lee Kuan Yew

BANGKOK (Agencies): Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid
accused the IMF of bolstering his enemies by delaying its latest
aid tranche and criticized the Singapore government for doing
nothing to curb speculation on the rupiah.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was playing into his
adversaries' hands by criticizing his administration,
Abddurrahman told the Bangkok Post in comments reported on
Sunday.

"The IMF must learn the art of compromise ... The IMF must
understand me," he said.

The organization, for example, should realize that it is
politically prudent for the Indonesian government to continue
subsidizing farmers for at least three years, Abdurrahman added.

The Indonesian leader also told the Thai newspaper that he had
spoken to Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew about stopping
commercial banks in the island state speculating in the
beleaguered rupiah.

But Lee told him the central bank had no authority over
commercial banks in this area, Abdurrahman added.

"When I said to him (Lee) that the central bank of Singapore
should advise commercial banks to stop dealing in rupiah, he said
the Singapore central bank had no authority over commercial
banks.

"In a way, he said that the government of Singapore will not
do anything to stop this kind of speculation."

Abdurrahman did not elaborate when his conversation with the
senior minister took place and Lee's office in Singapore could
not immediately be contacted.