Bambang refuses to be silenced by critics
Bambang refuses to be silenced by critics
JAKARTA (JP): Although his political career currently lies in the balance, outspoken Golkar legislator Bambang Warih Koesoemo continued to lash out in various directions yesterday.
As he awaits President Soeharto's decision on Golkar's demand that he be removed from the House of Representatives (DPR), Bambang yesterday denounced the domestic political situation in Indonesia today.
He criticized the government's handling of the ailing strategic industries, known as Badan Pengelola Industri Strategis (BPIS), headed by State Minister for Research and Technology B.J. Habibie.
"Now, this problem is a cause for tears...you really need to cry over this," he told The Jakarta Post during a "farewell dinner" with Jakarta-based political reporters.
Habibie said on Monday that five firms, including state aircraft maker IPTN and shipmaker PT PAL, had lost money, were inefficient and could be closed if they did not obtain export credits to bolster their overseas sales.
Finance Minister Mar'ie Muhammad has ruled out providing export credits for the industries, saying the government cannot afford it.
On Habibie's stance on the issue, Bambang said: "I was really disappointed when Habibie said (during the hearing) that the IPTN should just be closed down."
"Why did he say that, after we have invested millions of dollars? Didn't he consider, when the industry was started, that we could not afford to support it with that option?"
Speaking about his own problem, Bambang said his dismissal by Golkar, with whom he has served for 27 years, indicates that Indonesian politics have not advanced even after fifty years of independence.
"I'm sad...not for myself, but for this country," he told the Post. "We've been an independent nation for fifty years, and all we're facing are such basic political problems."
"I'm sad...we should all be sad and cry," he said.
He also expressed disappointment over the fact that his long years of serving the grouping were wasted overnight. "It's like my 27 years of service never existed," he said.
He said he would not offer his service anymore to Golkar. "In this situation... I wouldn't be able to work effectively," he said. However, "I have great hopes for this country...there are so many things to do and to improve."
He promised that he would not lose any of his "outspokenness" even if he's no longer actively involved in politics.
Should he lose his DPR seat, Bambang said he would concentrate on his consultancy business, which promotes investment from Europe to Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries. (swe)