Harmoko tells nation not to forget old spirit
Harmoko tells nation not to forget old spirit
JAKARTA (JP): House Speaker Harmoko urged the nation yesterday
to regain its old fighting spirit to survive future challenges
stemming from the current economic situation.
Speaking at a plenary House of Representatives session for the
presentation of the 1998/1999 planned state budget, Harmoko said
Indonesia had proven it could overcome tough tests in the past
and it could do so again.
"History tells us that Indonesia is a nation with resilience
to pass tough tests, tribulations and suffering," Harmoko said
last night.
"Let's maintain our guarded optimism despite difficulties in
the near future. We should never lose confidence that we can
overcome the adversities," he added.
Harmoko's speech also marked the resumption of the House
sitting after a recess since Dec. 18.
President Soeharto unveiled the planned state budget worth Rp
133.49 trillion, a 23 percent increase from the previous budget.
The government will now seek the House's approval before the
state budget comes into effect on March 1.
Vice President Try Sutrisno, his wife Tuti, cabinet ministers,
top-ranking government officials and foreign diplomats attended
the speech.
Last night's session, which began at 8:15 p.m., was the first
to be held in the evening. The unprecedented evening session was
due to the Ramadhan fasting month.
In his address, Harmoko said Indonesia was taking on a new
test in the form of escalating economic turmoil which has also
affected other Asian countries, but predicted that the country
will survive.
"If we combine our persistence with the spirit of unity,
solidarity and nationalism, we can cope with the present
challenges. That was what we did when we were in trouble in the
past, and we made it," he said.
He said the nation would even perform better than last year.
But he warned that the monetary turmoil would trigger new
problems, including social unrest as a result of massive layoffs
prompted by companies severely affected by the crisis.
"The time has come for us to promote social solidarity and
patriotism... to join hand in hand to escape this suffering," he
said.
He said perseverance and composure amid the mounting crisis
would also help the general session of the People's Consultative
Assembly in March run safely.
The upcoming fiscal year will be the last stage of the current
Sixth Five-Year Development Plan.
Harmoko said this year's state budget should be realistic,
given the country must pay its soaring foreign debts due to the
rising appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the rupiah.
He urged the government to continue its monetary and banking
reforms prudently and reminded officials to be disciplined in
carrying out the budget. (amd)