Guess What? Miranda Goeltom

Central bank director Miranda Goeltom confesses to not exactly being the role model she intended to be to her children.

"I am not exactly proud of myself... sometimes I consider myself not a good parent for not spending the needed time with my children," she said.

Miranda, 49, however claims that despite all of this, she is sure her two children are aware of what the crisis is doing to people.

"I have not raised their allowances. As I myself have not received a salary-increment this year, how could I raise their allowances.

"It's really impossible to do it anyway in these times even though prices of goods have risen everywhere... I have never given my daughters more than what they need.

"I assume that if they don't ask me for more money, they have spent it efficiently. They tell me about it (the crisis) and know what it is doing to people here."

She added that the only way the rupiah could climb above Rp 6,000 to the dollar was if regulations and implementation of the laws in the government sector were consistent.

"Other than that, external factors like student demonstrations should be lessened... I have heard from my bankers that even housewives, armed with information from husbands, are causing the further collapse of the rupiah. This should stop.

"If they really want to play, then at least do not tell others about it... it's one of two important factors that could stabilize the rupiah." (ylt)