More signals needed

More signals needed

The government has, for now, succeeded in strengthening the
value of the rupiah against the dollar and in pushing up the
stock exchange's composite index. The ten-point program announced
on Sept. 3 has proven effective in satisfying the expectations of
market players. In addition, there has been good coordination
with neighboring countries concerning the implementation of
policies, such as project rescheduling and taxation.

The aim of the Sept. 3 package, however, is not just to
stabilize the rupiah and resuscitate the stock exchange, but to
strengthen the Indonesian economy in its entirety. That being the
case, further elucidation of the ten points is needed. Our
economic players are anxiously waiting for measures to follow up
the Sept. 3 policy package. In a phase such as the present, speed
in acting to satisfy those expectations will have a great
influence on economic development.

The government must continue to send out clear signals to
steer the market in the right direction. This is most important
both to prevent speculators from making the wrong interpretations
and to revive business enthusiasm in this country. Continuity in
sending out such signals invokes trust.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta