Habibie says he now puts people's welfare first
Habibie says he now puts people's welfare first
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie has confessed that as
state minister of research and technology he was obsessed with
the development of technology in Indonesia but now as president
he is more concerned about ensuring people's basic welfare.
Habibie admitted that he might even have been overly selfish
in his obsession to advance high-tech in the country, and
neglected other sectors which might have needed more attention
than his costly projects, such as the country's state-owned
aircraft manufacturer PT IPTN.
"Now I'm responsible for the whole Indonesian nation, my
priority is the procurement of daily commodities, medicines,
education, to help students whose parents have just lost their
jobs and how to help poor teachers and make sure they have
something to cook in their kitchens," Habibie said during a 75-
minute meeting with 60 students and 15 professors from the
Bandung-based Pajajaran University at the Bina Graha presidential
office yesterday.
"As minister of research and technology for 20 years, when Pak
Habibie talked he would only touch on aircraft or ship issues.
Now I no longer know much about aircraft, it is a matter of the
past," Habibie said.
During the meeting, university rector Maman Rukmana presented
the university's concept on reform which he boasted as "much
better than the current State Guidelines".
The meeting itself proceeded in a relaxed atmosphere.
Unimaginable during former president Soeharto's era, many
students yesterday came wearing only T-shirts, blue jeans and
their university jackets.
Only two students wearing sandals were barred entry.
Complicated
Despite the leeway given to them when meeting the head of
state, one student, Fini, complained: "The protocol is too
complicated, even though the president himself is very open
minded".
Economists and even international agencies often criticized
Habibie as a big spender and technology czar whose megaprojects
usurped state funds.
In 1994 the government came under fire when then president
Soeharto allowed the transfer of more than Rp 400 billion
collected for the reforestation fund to be transferred to
bankroll IPTN.
The students and their lecturers were not shy yesterday in
openly criticizing Habibie during the meeting.
Johan Masjhur, a lecturer at the school of medicine,
criticized the government's poor sense of crisis, saying that
Habibie's team lacked a comprehensive strategy to cure the
country's collapsing economy.
"Some people even say that the government is only half-
heartedly carrying out its reform programs," Johan told Habibie.
Realizing that he was talking with a doctor, he compared the
country's economy to a dying patient which could not be cured
instantly, even by the best doctors.
"Such things (magical cures) only happen in the 1001 nights
fairytales," Habibie said, bursting into laughter.
He then urged university lecturers and academics to provide a
conducive climate for students to develop and hone their
creativity.
To the students he advised: "Do not neglect your main duty to
be doctors, legal experts or economists. Please pity your
parents". (prb)