Habibie outlines reform program

Habibie outlines reform program

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie outlined his agenda for
reform before his 36-strong cabinet yesterday, including plans
for the revision of political laws needed before he can call a
general election.

Habibie led the inaugural meeting of the cabinet he installed
on Saturday at the Bina Graha presidential office, and set out
the priorities for reform during his presidency.

The government's chief priority was to root out corruption,
collusion and nepotism, and create a clean government, he said in
his 24-page address.

He made no mention of when he hoped to call for either a
general or presidential election.

But Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said after the
meeting that a general election would be held as soon as the
government, in cooperation with the House of Representatives
(DPR), completed drafting new political laws.

"Once they are enacted, the President can call for the
election within one week," Akbar told reporters.

Several senior members of Habibie's cabinet had made it clear
that they had accepted office with the understanding that this
was a transitional government which would prepare for new
elections and subsequently a new government.

Akbar said that to call the new administration transitionary
was incorrect, but added: "Basically, implementing reform means
to hold a general election as quickly as possible".

Habibie in his speech said the government could immediately
start reviewing the five political laws upon which the current
political system is build.

They are the laws on mass organizations, the House of
Representatives (DPR), the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR),
political parties, regional administrations, and elections.

Habibie also added that the law on subversion should be
revised immediately.

Habibie recognized the problem of legitimacy which his
government had in the eyes of many people.

"I understand that some members of the public are still
questioning the legality and legitimacy of this government.

"We must accept all those opinions gracefully," he said.

He also said the government would work hard to prepare for
holding a clean and democratic general election.

He called on his ministers to draw up a national reform agenda
and proposed seeking a national consensus to limit the number of
five-year terms a president can serve to a maximum of two.

These steps, he said, were vital to restore public confidence
in the government.

The president ordered his ministers to carry out sweeping
reform in all sectors, including in political, economic and legal
fields, to enable the government to satisfy mounting demands for
a strong and clean government.

Habibie said he planned to establish a Reform Working Group,
which will consist of prominent public figures.

He assigned State Minister of the National Development
Planning Board Boediono, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid,
and Minister of Justice Muladi to assist the group.

Habibie first discussed the idea when he met with a number of
government critics, including Amien Rais and Emil Salim, on
Saturday night.

According to Akbar, he is due to meet with them again today.

Habibie said the cabinet should immediately begin work on the
two most pressing economic problems -- ensuring a sufficient
supply of food and basic needs at an affordable price, and
getting the wheels of the economy turning again.

To achieve this, he said the government should stabilize the
rupiah exchange rate, control inflation, and implement the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) reform agreement in order to
restore foreign and domestic investor confidence.

Other objectives in his economic program include:

* Boosting output from the agriculture, agribusiness, export-
oriented industry and tourism sectors.

* Safeguarding the implementation of the 1998/1999 state
budget.

* Accelerating the bank restructuring program.

* Resolving the problem of corporate foreign debts.

Habibie ordered ministers to dismantle special facilities and
privileges granted by the previous administration to certain
people or business groups.

He also signaled his intention of becoming a "hands-on"
president, saying that he will personally lead three cabinet
meetings every month, one each to discuss the economy, politics
and welfare.

His predecessor Soeharto only led the monthly cabinet meeting
on the economy.

Habibie, a former technology minister, ordered his cabinet
members to use the Internet to communicate with one another.
(prb)