House to quiz BI governor nominees

JAKARTA: House leaders and faction chairpersons urged the House finance and banking commission to finish its selection hearings on candidates for the position of Bank Indonesia (BI) governor by May 10.

The recommendation would mean that commission members will have to work through the House recess from March 8 through April 25, 2003.

"We urge the commission to take the tight schedule into consideration," House Speaker Akbar Tandjung told the press after a consultation meeting between House leaders and faction chairpersons here on Tuesday.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has nominated current BI deputy governor Miranda Goeltom, Indonesia's representative to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Cyrillus Harinowo, and former coordinating minister for the economy Burhanuddin Abdullah, to replace current BI governor Syahril Sabirin, who will end his term on May 17, 2003.

Legislator Endin A.J. Soefihara called on his fellow legislators on the commission to continue their work during the recess to enable the House of Representatives (DPR) meet its deadlines. - JP