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)