Hopes for crisis to end this year

Hopes for crisis to end this year

JAKARTA (JP): A devastating economic crisis, which has been
biting ever deeper since July 1997, is the most dreaded calamity
that people from all walks of life hope will end this year.

The following are the plans and expectations of some people's
New Year's resolutions as told to The Jakarta Post.

Jajang C. Noer, theater actress, director.

I would like to spend more time with my children in these
difficult times. They are aged 18 and 19.

Now is a bad time for everybody. In this transitional period,
as many soothsayers call it, the socioeconomic condition can only
worsen.

Yes, I do believe in people like (soothsayer) Permadi. He has
painted a very gloomy picture for 1999. Usually, most of his
predictions come true.

Something abnormal is happening to our country. Our ex-
president (Soeharto) has put us in a fix. He may die in one or
two years and leave us with a miserable legacy.

I just want to see my children grow without being too badly
effected by what is happening around us.

I hope to get a chance to do a good TV series or film this
year. I am not really running after it but I hope to get a chance
to work on a good story.

I love dramas and hope to make an honest-to-goodness drama.

James Riady, banker: I hope we will become better citizens. We
have to challenge ourselves to become good citizens.

In facing this worsening crisis, we must contribute something
to the recovery of our economy.

Feisal Tanjung, coordinating minister for political affairs
and security: I have no specific plans for 1999 but will continue
working for the country.

I do not have a specific target of personal achievement for
1999. I do not smoke and I have no restrictions on food. I enjoy
my life.

Nia Sarinastiti, an executive at Anderson Consulting
Indonesia: I have three resolutions.

First, I want to improve my (golfing) handicap. My handicap
has worsened since I had my daughter, Kanya, 4. Second, I want to
make a little sister or brother for Kanya. Third, I want to help
Indonesia, or maybe the government, to better communicate its
programs to the people. I was really sad to hear my overseas
friends telling me that Indonesia (the government) is swaying
with the wind, saying and promising one thing but doing something
different.

Soleh Solahuddin, minister of agriculture: The year 1998 was a
hard one for me because I was appointed minister of agriculture.

Before I became a minister, I often criticized government
policies which did not benefit farmers. Now, it's my turn to be
criticized. (He then burst out laughing). Now I know how it feels
to be bombarded with criticism.

I would like to make a tighter schedule for myself for 1999 so
that I can exercise more regularly. When I was rector of the
Bogor Institute of Agricultural (his last job before becoming
minister), I always jogged around my housing complex. And I have
not had enough time to exercise in the past seven months due to
my mounting work load as a minister. The only sport I can play
now is tennis, but I cannot play that regularly either.

I also plan to have enough rest and to eat healthier food,
reduce my meat and fat consumption and eat more vegetables to
avoid high cholesterol. I need to be in good health always, so
that I can carry out my duties better.

My biggest plans for 1999 are to improve my performance, to
help farmers and to improve the country's agriculture sector.

My biggest hope for 1999 is that the situation will get better
for all of us.

Adler Manurung, an executive at Nikko Securities: Because 1999
is likely to become a year of uncertainty, the only thing we can
do is commend things to God's will.

I do not have any special plans for 1999. I just want to thank
God I still work At Nikko Securities. I think I am fortunate to
work at the company because Nikko of Japan has strong commitment
to Indonesia.

Slamet Rahardjo, theater and film actor and director: With
Indonesian movies being able to pull audiences into 21 Group
cinemas for weeks now, it is my hope, as a film director, that we
are given the strength to make full use of this advantage and
create.

We hear everywhere that people are afraid of the situations.
It is the job of every filmmaker and miniseries maker to prove
that they can do better than people think.

In the newspapers, we read about soothsayers predicting gloomy
days. No one can assure that peace will return.

Bambang Gunawan, a director at MasterCard International
Indonesia: I have only one simple resolution for 1999. I want to
balance my time for my work and for my family. So far, I cannot
do this because I'm a relatively new employee at my workplace.

Muslimin Nasution, minister of forestry and plantations: My
biggest regret for 1998 was the fact that I could not do my
religious duties well because of my increased activities after
being appointed minister.

Before becoming a minister, I could finish reciting the Koran
70 times a year. Now I don't have enough time for that. I spent
less than an hour a day reading it.

I also lack time for exercising now. I feel my body is rather
flabby. In 1999, I have to do more exercises to make my body
fresh and fit again.

And last, I am optimistic that in 1999, the situation will get
better.

Jannus O. Hutapea, general manager and corporate relations
head at the Tirtamas Group: I will pay attention to the future
because that's where I am going to spend the rest of my life.

I want to improve relations with journalists to build a good
public image for Tirtamas. I also want to strengthen our teamwork
to cope with the difficult times.

In my habits and idiosyncrasies, I will always be at war with
the word failure. I know, with the help of the Lord, that I can
and must make it and I am convinced, in my 45th year now, that
the only way to get ahead is risk-taking.

What I need is an irrevocable act that forces me, on pain of
disgrace, jail or death, to be the best I can be. The longer I
live, the more firmly convinced I become that the essential
factor that lifts one man above his fellows in terms of
achievement and success is his greater capacity for self-
discipline. I want to pay the price in self-discipline because I
want to be the happiest person that ever lived.
Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman, Jakarta Police chief: I hope that
1999 will be a good year. The situation will get better,
development will restart and security will improve. All will
hopefully change this year.

I hope I will manage to improve the City Police unit. We all
have to realize our role as the people's guards, protectors and
servants.

Sophie Nurbani, marketing support department manager, PT
Asuransi Allianze Utama Indonesia: I want to pursue further
training or education maybe, just participating in seminars or
training programs.

Some of the programs I am considering joining are the John
Robert Powers school for career and personality development or
the MDI program for negotiating.

Pursuing higher education for self-improvement becomes more
important now, especially after I was promoted to the managerial
level in March 1998. I feel I have to work harder this year as my
work is more challenging.

I also want to develop new insurance products suitable to the
current situation.

And my biggest hope for this year is that I wish Indonesia's
economy will perform better. (team)