President to focus on people's incomes

President to focus on people's incomes

JIMBARAN, Bali (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid assured the international business community on Sunday that his government would uphold market-oriented policy and encourage foreign investors to take an active part in the country's economic development.

Abdurrahman pledged to focus on improving people's incomes which he considered a key to civil service reform, strengthening the weak legal system and diluting the military's role in politics.

In a wide-ranging speech in English, his first before an international audience since taking office on Wednesday, the President outlined his vision for the crisis-hit country, mapping out the direction of his economic and foreign policies and stressing the importance of full autonomy for provincial administrations.

"It is nonsense to talk about democratization, peace, demilitarization and other big issues if people cannot afford even their basic necessities," Abdurrahman told foreign businesspeople, diplomats and academics at an international conference.

He said most of the country's problems were caused by the failure to narrow the wealth gap, defiance of the law and centralized decision making in Jakarta.

The three-day conference, which ended on Sunday, was organized by political and economic consultants Van Zorge Heffernan & Associates. The meeting, which discussed Indonesia's future, featured foreign and domestic analysts as main panelists.

He said he could understand people's growing demand for discontinuation of the dual function of the Indonesian Military (TNI).

"But I cannot simply order them (the military) to return to their barracks without first solving their main problems," added the President, who as usual talked off the cuff.

He said the main mistake of previous administrations was they did not focus on raising personal incomes. "My government therefore will see to it that personal incomes will improve."

Abdurrahman reiterated his commitment to protecting all citizens, regardless their religion, ethnic background and social status.

He said he wanted to see people from different religions and ethnic groups live in harmony and expressed profound sadness over the violent clashes between Christians and Muslims in Maluku.

"We must differentiate between religious militancy and religious consciousness," he noted.

The President reiterated the imperative need for strengthening the judicial system and for a rule-based, level playing field in the market.

"We have to live with a free, open international trade system where companies are motivated by profits," the President added.

He said his government would foster private enterprises and encourage foreign investors to help the country out of its present economic crisis.

Indonesia, he added, could not develop its economy without the assistance of foreign investment.

Abdurrahman also talked about the urgent need for granting full autonomy to provinces and even hinted at the possibility, sometime in the future, of a federal system in the country.

"There will be federalism, although I can not say openly whether it will be federalism in its real sense," he said.

Foreign policy

The President said he was willing to adjust the government's foreign policy to whatever efforts would be necessary to improve people's living conditions.

"Because when Indonesia was still poor as it is now, other countries did not show any respect for Indonesia, he said.

The President added, however, his government would not make any compromises when it comes to "our basic principles".

He also warned that his government would never tolerate any humiliation from other countries or parties and he would do everything in his power to maintain national dignity and honor.

"Indonesia is a great nation with its 210 million population," he pointed out.

The President said it was imperative for the country to develop within the region as well as on a broader international stage.

He said he would follow the tradition of new leaders in ASEAN to make introductory visits to its member countries.

"I will first visit Singapore, then Malaysia, Burma, Vietnam, and the Philippines. I also would like to visit China, India and Japan, before attending the informal ASEAN summit in Manila next month," Abdurrahman said.

He pointed out he was very eager to go to Israel, which he had once visited in his capacity as one of the founders of the Simon Peres Institution.

"Indonesia can learn a lot from Israel on economy and democracy. Even several Arab countries have diplomatic relations with Israel," he said.

He said he had apologized to the United States Ambassador designate, Robert Gelbard, at a meeting on Thursday for not choosing the superpower as his first overseas destination.

The ambassador, according to him, praised his plan. "But my daughter told me later the ambassador's face changed upon hearing my plan."

Meanwhile, AFP reported from Amman that President Abdurrahman is among several world political and religious leaders expected in the city to address a conference in November to promote peace in the new millennium, organizers have said.

"President Wahid confirmed his participation before the Indonesian elections and said he will give a key note address" to the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP), secretary- general William Vendley told AFP.

"I haven't spoken to him in the last three days to see whether he needs to change his plans because of the election," Vendley said in a telephone call from New York on the weekend.

Cabinet

Abdurrahman said he would recruit professionals with impeccable integrity to his Cabinet in a bid to build a clean, credible and respectable government.

But he defied suggestions from most analysts and party leaders which said that his Cabinet might still include former cabinet members of his predecessors, B. J. Habibie and Soeharto.

He said he understood the great concern of those who were entirely against including any senior officials of the previous administrations in his Cabinet but he had to make some compromises.

"But please rest assured that I will see to it that all people recruited to my Cabinet will have their past track record checked thoroughly, will have to follow our course in economic development and our new system which is based on honesty and fairness," he added.

The President also talked about personal matters such as his eye problem which prevents him from playing golf.

"Everytime I hit the ball, I can only hit my own legs," he quipped and burst into laughter.

He also jokingly complained about Merdeka Palace protocol: "Now, as President I have to wear shoes," he said.(prb)