House concerned about strategic industries

JAKARTA (JP): Legislators expressed concern yesterday about the future of Indonesia's strategic industries in the wake of the economic crisis.

In a hearing with head of the Management Board of Strategic Industries B.J. Habibie here yesterday, members of House Commission VIII for research and technology cited aircraft maker PT IPTN and ship manufacturer PT PAL as two of the industries they feared could be affected by the turmoil.

Tayo Tarmadi from the Armed Forces faction, Firmansyah Wuisan from Golkar, and Soelaiman Biyahimo from the United Development Party (PPP) faction were among the legislators who presented Habibie with a barrage of questions about the industries.

Tayo, for instance, asked when IPTN would reach its break-even point, while Soelaiman asked about the financial state of strategic industries.

Habibie promised to submit a written statement on the financial state of the strategic industries, but said the industries made a Rp 50.2 billion profit last year.

Later on, Habibie expressed displeasure about what he considered a belittling by a legislator of the National Technology Day on Aug. 10.

"It's really sad if you, people's representatives, look down on our own nation's achievement (in technology and scientific development)," he said.

He said that technology day, introduced in 1995 with the maiden flight of the IPTN-made N-250 aircraft, serves to usher Indonesia to an era of high technology.

Habibie was responding to a remark by Nico Daryanto of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction that not many people are familiar with the day.

Nico also said that many people are still more familiar with Fokker or DC-9 aircraft than with Tetuko or N-250 aircraft.

Habibie said the IPTN aircraft was proof of Indonesia's achievements.

"The aircraft are a result of a technology that we master. It cannot be manipulated. Airplanes do not fly because of laws or political statements," he said. (09)