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.