Hipmi urged to fill the many distribution chain vacancies
Hipmi urged to fill the many distribution chain vacancies
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie said yesterday in a
meeting with executives of the Association of Young Indonesian
Businessmen that they should fill the vacancies in the business
distribution chain created by fleeing nonindigenous
entrepreneurs.
"In such times of economic crisis, pak Habibie called on us to
participate by filling the vacancies in the distribution chain,"
the association's chairman, Bambang Wiyogo, told journalists
after the meeting.
"We are ready. We already have a network in cities throughout
Indonesia and we will use it for distribution purposes," he said.
While the ethnic Chinese only make up about 4 percent of the
population, they are widely perceived as controlling the economy.
Thousands of Indonesians fled the country in the wake of the
riots in several major cities in May. Most of those who left were
Chinese-Indonesians who were conspicuously targeted during the
unrest.
Many have yet to return, leaving the distribution chain of
many goods barely functioning.
It is unclear whether Habibie's call on the young
entrepreneurs was meant as a permanent move or a temporary
gesture until those who fled return.
Bambang said the association asked Habibie to create a more
open and fair business climate which included equality for
indigenous businessmen.
"In the past tremendous opportunities and facilities were
given to nonindigenous entrepreneurs. We hope that this will not
happen again now," he said.
Later yesterday evening Habibie received about 175 members of
the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss the
latest political and economic developments.
Kadin chairman Aburizal Bakrie reasserted in his address the
importance of a security guarantee from the government and the
Armed Forces to encourage nonindigenous entrepreneurs to return.
"Kadin asks nonindigenous Indonesian businesspeople, both at
home and abroad, to immediately resume their economic activities.
"Now is the time to prove our nationalism and sense of
nationhood," he asserted.
Aburizal conceded that the problems faced by Chinese-
Indonesians were not solely economic in nature.
"Many other aspects have contributed to the depreciation of
people's welfare and prosperity. Among them is the question of
confidence, confidence in Indonesia and our national economy," he
added.
To Kadin, Habibie once again implored, and at one point almost
seemed to threaten, economic players to restart their activities.
"I'm not fooling or kidding here," Habibie remarked while
warning that if distributors continued to delay recommencing
their activities he would replace them all.
Election
Commenting on calls for speedy elections, Habibie claimed that
the schedule of polls in May was chosen because it would give
everyone time to prepare themselves adequately.
He boasted that if polls were held immediately the dominant
Golkar organization would prevail.
"As the executive coordinator of Golkar's board of patrons I
would prefer to have a hasty election. I'm sure Golkar would win
because it has been around for 34 years. But as President I have
to be fair to the others," he remarked.
"Maybe it wouldn't win 74 percent but at least about 50
percent," he said, while claiming that holding elections next
year would be fair on other contesting parties, many of whom have
not had the opportunity to publicize themselves. (mds)