Listen to the market

Listen to the market

President Abdurrahman Wahid, this time, is in no hurry to
announce his new Cabinet. He has listened to Vice President
Megawati Soekarnoputri, who advised him to select his ministers
carefully so as to prevent change midway. We agree that forming
the new Cabinet must be done with patience and care, not only
because it must consist of personalities who are capable and are
able to work as a team, but because it must also have ministers
who are trusted by the market.

Market confidence, indeed, is one of the qualities that was
not considered in the formation of the current Cabinet. President
Abdurrahman Wahid often acted without even considering the
reactions of the market. Now, however, the President has come to
recognize that market confidence is a factor of decisive
importance in our efforts to overcome the economic crisis.

Winning the market's confidence has, thus, become the most
important factor in forming the new Cabinet. What are the main
requirements to achieve this? Among other things, the market only
trusts those ministers whose reputation is known, especially
their reputation with regard to the management of assets. The
market only trusts Cabinet ministers who keep their promises, who
are true to their word and who are willing to take risks and are
not afraid of losing their jobs. For those reasons, we would
suggest that President Abdurrahman Wahid consider reappointing
Kwik Kian Gie, if the market trusts him.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta