If I were president

If I were the president of Indonesia, the first thing I would do is build as many prisons as possible. Then I would order the police to capture and imprison every corruptor, which includes corrupt tycoons, from government officials right up to the president, directors of state-owned enterprises, directors of companies belonging to tycoons etc.

Most rich Indonesians would probably go to jail, because only a small number have made their fortunes honestly, while the rest are no more than thieves of various sizes.

Those involved in hoodlum-like activities, under the guise of social organizations, would also be categorized as the enemy of the people, hence their leaders would be kept behind bars, while their followers would be given a choice: Repent or follow them to prison!

Farmers would be given sufficient land as well as technical and financial help. More money would have to be printed to fund all this, which would be against the IMF's guidelines and would create inflation.

This new government would provide financial assistance to anyone who could produce anything that could be sold, from pins to planes. On the other hand, professionals relying on the "smartness of tongue", like lawyers, politicians, economic advisors and so forth would be suppressed as they do not benefit the public.

With foreign thieves, like Freeport and others, a new agreement would be made, which would allow them to take only 20 percent of what they have mined. The agreement would be retroactive, so that all previously unbalanced profit-sharing would be regarded as outstanding loans payable within a certain period. Their countries would be responsible for these loans, just like the IMF now pressurizes the Indonesian government to repay private loans taken out by corrupt local tycoons.

Should the world, in particular the United States and its allies, threaten to impose an embargo, then I would say: "Me afraid? Never!"

TONTOWY DJAUHARI HAMZAH

Jakarta