Beware of economic sabotage: Siswono

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo warned Saturday that certain parties are pushing for political change amid the current economic turbulence.

He cited rumors about the resignation of Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad and the death of the country's richest tycoon Soedono Salim as evidence of this.

"We could call this economic sabotage," said Siswono at a regional congress of the Indonesian Association of Architects. He did not name any names.

He said that those spreading the rumors must have had strategic motives, either economic or political, through looking to profit from the decline of the rupiah against the US dollar.

"Or maybe they were our competitors seeking to undermine the world community's trust in our economy," he said.

There were also, he charged, people who sought to create political unrest here by first causing economic turbulence.

"We must realize that inside and outside our country, there are parties that are not pleased to see Indonesia becoming a strong, progressive and prosperous country."

The rumors spread after the government closed 16 banks on Nov. 1 as part of a reform package in exchange for a US$23 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund to help rejuvenate the Indonesian economy.

Siswono suggested that "the country's patriotic forces unite ... the economic forces, the businessmen, have to have patriotism."

Siswono, a successful businessman who relinquished his positions in dozens of companies when he became a minister in 1988, suggested that the government "reflect on shortcomings that have weakened the public's trust in it."

The nation should also develop a "fair political culture."

Indonesia needs, he said, "political fairness to avoid the emergence of political hatred (on the part of parties feeling trampled by unfairness)." He warned that without fairness, the cheated parties could become destructive forces.

"Those forces have the potential to conduct economic and political sabotage," he said.

"Fairness in politics is very important to instill a feeling of keikhlasan (grace) and being good sports on the part of the defeated or sidelined political forces, so they bear no grudge," he said.

He said that cooperation between the government, business and the public to strengthen the Indonesian economy would help overcome the sabotage.

"I hope that we can all unite Indonesia Incorporated," said Siswono. He also suggested that Probosutedjo, the owner of one of the liquidated banks, withdraw his lawsuit against the government.

Bambang Trihatmodjo, part owner of another liquidated bank, had withdrawn his lawsuit citing greater national interests, a move praised Saturday by Siswono. (09)