High-tech takes a backseat in crisis, Habibie says
High-tech takes a backseat in crisis, Habibie says
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie, long an ardent advocate
of the importance of high technology for the nation, has cited
procurement of daily necessities as his administration's top
priority during the economic crisis.
The President described on Monday how national unity and
cohesion would be imperiled if the government failed to provide
basic commodities for the public, especially the poor.
"In such a difficult situation, we must choose what's to be
prioritized... and what can be postponed," the President said at
the opening of the third international symposium on sophisticated
science and technology and aerospace.
The President said the government was originally scheduled to
organize the symposium concurrently with the Asia Pacific Hi-Tech
and Air Show this year, but decided to cancel the latter due to
the crisis.
"We do not need to feel discouraged by that, (and) we must
maintain our idealism and far-reaching vision, but we must also
be realistic in facing our current situation," the President told
the 300 symposium participants.
The four-day meeting is being organized by the office of the
State Minister of Research and Technology and the Agency for the
Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT).
The first symposium was held in 1986, when the state-owned
aircraft manufacturer PT IPTN, then led by Habibie, launched the
40-seat CN-235 commuter aircraft.
Ten years later, Habibie hosted the second symposium in
Jakarta, where he introduced the 70-seat turboprop N-250
aircraft.
"In this symposium, we are introducing hunger and poverty," a
palace official said bitterly yesterday.
Habibie was often described as a big spender and technology
czar for his promotion of megaprojects during 20 years as
state research and technology minister. The term ended in March
when he was appointed vice president before taking over from
Soeharto as president in May.
Economists and even international agencies often criticized
Habibie and claimed his megaprojects supplanted state funding to
other sectors.
In a meeting with Padjadjaran University lecturers and
students in June, Habibie admitted for the first time that he may
have been selfish in his obsession to advance high-tech in the
country when he was a minister, to the neglect of other sectors.
"Now that 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 poor teachers, and make sure they have something to cook
in their kitchens," Habibie said at that time.
"This activity (symposium) is not a luxury, because although
we are facing heavy problems, we must do our best to face the
future," the President noted on Monday. (prb)