House concerned about strategic industries

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)