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)