Junus quits Batam authority

Junus quits Batam authority

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie's brother Junus Effendi
Habibie resigned yesterday as head of the Batam Island Industrial
Development Authority.

Junus, more popularly called Fanny, had first said he would
quit following the appointment of his elder brother as the
country's new president, to avoid nepotism accusations.

Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung installed Ismet
Abdullah as the new head, Maj. Gen. Jusuf Domi as the new deputy
for operations, M. Priyanto as deputy for supervision, and Wendy
Aritenang as deputy for administration and planning, Antara
reported.

Akbar said the government would provide a healthy business
environment and improved infrastructure to attract more investors
to the island.

Total investment on the island as of the end of March was
US$6.66 billion, of which more than 76 percent was poured in by
the private sector and the remainder by the government, he said.

He added that industrial exports from Batam at the end of 1997
had totaled $4.88 billion, and that the island had attracted 1.12
million foreign tourists who had spent $425 million in foreign
exchange. (rei)