Goh 'relieved' at calm transition of power

JAKARTA (JP): Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong told President B.J. Habibie that he was relieved political succession in Indonesia had proceeded peacefully and that he was looking forward to working with the new President.

"I have followed developments in Indonesia with close concern. I watched the transfer of the presidency... your inaugural address to the nation as President, and the announcement of your Reform and Development Cabinet live on TV," Goh said in a letter to Habibie, a copy of which was received by The Jakarta Post yesterday.

"I am greatly relieved that the political transition in Indonesia has been peaceful and constitutional," the Singapore prime minister said.

Singapore, one of Indonesia's closest neighbors and fellow founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has been the destination for many of the people who fled the country during recent unrest.

Goh pointed out in his letter that Habibie had entered office during a time of great difficulty and faced formidable challenges.

He said that relations between Singapore and Indonesia had grown significantly over the years, and that he looked "forward to working with you to build on what our two countries have achieved together."

Singapore's senior minister, Lee Kuan Yew, publicly criticized Habibie's nomination as a vice-presidential candidate in the run- up to the general session of the People's Consultative Assembly in March.

In a Feb. 8 speech broadcast on state television he said markets had been disturbed by the criteria which allowed Habibie to be named vice-president.

Habibie supporters later lodged a protest with the Singaporean Embassy here over Lee's comments, calling them interference in Indonesia's internal affairs.

From Tokyo it was reported that Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto welcomed Indonesia's plan to hold a general election before 2003 and said that Japan would closely monitor developments in Indonesia, especially the economic and political reforms introduced by President Habibie. (mds)