Megawati expresses optimism for Indonesia's future

Megawati expresses optimism for Indonesia's future

SINGAPORE (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri
expressed optimism on Wednesday that Indonesia would overcome its
economic and political crises and enjoy a better and more certain
future.

Addressing some 150 participants of a forum of international
business executives during her two-day working visit to
Singapore, Megawati said Indonesians had a strong fighting spirit
and would survive the most difficult situations.

"Amid such a difficult situation, which has never happened
before in our modern history, a major part of our nation will
continue to struggle for our survival. We will use our spirit as
an asset to recover from the crisis," she said.

"I am optimistic that we will be able to get through and see a
better and more certain future."

The Vice President conceded that Indonesia had been dealing
with seemingly overwhelming social, political and security
problems since the economic crisis hit the country in the middle
of 1997.

"We want to solve all the problems, but we cannot do it at
once and, therefore, we have to prioritize.

"But many people are no longer patient and want revolutionary
changes," she said.

She said Indonesia had numerous fundamental weaknesses that
contributed to the current complex problems, and needed to foster
a conducive climate to attract more foreign investors to the
country.

The Vice President said Indonesia needed foreign investment to
help ease its 6 percent unemployment, but foreign investors were
reluctant to put their money into the country because of the
numerous labor actions.

"Besides internal factors, our feeble investment environment
has contributed to the foreign investors' reluctance to invest in
Indonesia."

She said the hasty implementation of regional autonomy also
fostered uncertainty among local and foreign investors.

The Vice President promised that Indonesia would continue
with its reform agenda to cope with the country's fundamental
weaknesses and the large challenges it faced in the future.

"Over the last two years, we have worked hard to restructure
our institutions in the political, economic and defense fields.

"Reform of the presidency, the legislative body and the
Supreme Court has gained serious attention. We have also
reformulated the composition and function of the military and the
National Police, and the multiparty system in an effort to
empower all these institutions to function optimally," she said.

Some businesspeople and executives at the forum expressed
their commitment to invest in Indonesia when the political
situation returned to normal.

Wilson Goh, the power system manager at Trakindo Utama Service
Pte. Ltd., admitted that foreign investors were reluctant to
invest in Indonesia because of the political instability and the
absence of legal certainty in the country.

"Indonesia should first maintain its political stability and
enforce the law to ensure business certainty for investors. We
won't invest if our factory will only be damaged by the workers.

"Therefore, political stability, legal certainty and security
must be maintained to attract foreign investors," he said.

Tong Djoe, an Indonesian businessman who also has companies in
Singapore, agreed, saying many foreign investors have parked
their capital in Singapore and have declined to invest in
Indonesia because of the political instability and recent violent
unrest in the country.

"It is impossible for foreign investors to do business in
Indonesia if the political situation is unstable," he said.

Michael Morris, a Singapore-based British businessman, called
on Megawati to take over the presidency from Abdurrahman Wahid to
salvage Indonesia.

"Our question is when will Megawati comes to power as Arroyo
(Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) has done in the Philippines. We are
sure that she will be able to lead Indonesia and Indonesia will
achieve progress under her leadership," he said.

Megawati was due to pay a courtesy call on Senior Minister Lee
Kuan Yew on Wednesday afternoon before leaving for Jakarta.

Last Saturday, Senior Minister Lee met with President
Abdurrahman Wahid and three of the President's foreign economic
advisers in Jakarta, to discuss efforts to help bring Indonesia
out of its crisis.

Minister Lee also met with House of Representatives Speaker
Akbar Tandjung, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais
and former Indonesian Military chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto to garner
their opinions on the current conditions in the country. (rms)