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)