Abdurrahman denies plan to purchase plane

NEW YORK (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid denied here on Wednesday he was planning to purchase a presidential airplane from Boeing.

"I do not have any plans to purchase the plane. We do not have the money for that," Abdurrahman, who is in New York to attend the UN-organized Millennium Summit, said.

He admitted, however, that during a refueling stop in Seattle earlier in the week, executives of Boeing, the world's largest aerospace company, offered him the opportunity to purchase a Boeing 737-800.

The head of the presidential palace protocol office, Wahyu Muryadi, said on Monday the President was planning to buy the plane.

Wahyu said at the time the purchase would ease the burden on national flag-carrier Garuda Indonesia, which often must rearrange its flight schedules due to presidential trips.

The statement triggered criticism from legislators, who said the people were in urgent need of rice, not a private airplane.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Rizal Ramli said the purchase of a presidential airplane from Boeing might not be such a bad idea.

"I think we agree with the planned purchase ... from an efficiency point of view, the wide-bodied jet currently used by the President could be used for commercial purposes," Ramli said on Wednesday.

The Boeing 737-800 jetliner, which comes with a price tag of between US$50 and $60 million, is one of the newest offerings from the Seattle-based company. It includes high-tech, vertical winglets that can extend the airplane's range and fuel efficiency.

Since becoming President 11 months ago, Abdurrahman has angered legislators and political foes by traveling to more than 35 countries on official visits. (prb/byg)