Economy ruined by corruption, collusion, Moslem ulemas say

JAKARTA (JP): The influential Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) said yesterday the country's economy has been severely undermined by chronic corruption and collusion practices.

The ulema also criticized selfish profiteers who only thought about their own interests.

In a statement, the ulema said the eradication of such practices was urgent because it resulted in a high cost economy.

"Illegal levies, corruption, collusion, commercialization of power and complicated bureaucracy... are haram (forbidden)," chairman Hasan Basri said after meeting with President Soeharto at his residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.

During the meeting, Soeharto briefed the ulema on his agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week to implement drastic economic reforms as part of the US$40 billion bailout package led by the IMF.

The country's economy has continued to deteriorate in the past few weeks. Its foreign debts totaled $140 billion, of which $65 billion was owed by the private sector.

Critics have deplored the agreement, saying that Indonesia has pawned its sovereignty to the world body.

"MUI appreciates the government's seriousness in overcoming the monetary upheaval... the cooperation package with the IMF must be continued so that the current situation can be solved," said Hasan.

The ulema reiterated the council's edict, issued Sunday, that speculative money trading just for one-sided profit was forbidden.

"Keeping certain currency for speculation, and not for public interests, is not tolerated by (the Islamic) religion," he said.

He reminded Moslems that the alteration of function of currency from a means of exchange to a trading commodity was forbidden in Islam.

He also said people were obliged to support government policies and defend its measures taken to heal the ailing economy.

"It is time to launch movements to love the country and to love the rupiah," said the ulema. (prb)