Regrets for 1996 and resolutions for the new year

JAKARTA (JP): Government officials, business executives, professionals, artists and workers were asked by The Jakarta Post to look back and share a few of their thoughts about 1996. They were also asked about their hopes and resolutions for the coming year.

Below are their responses.

Poet and drama actor/director W.S. Rendra said: "The year 1996 has been one of the most splendid ever for me because it's the time I recovered from a serious illness. Thanks for the good moment, I'm planning to go for a trip to some European countries next year to read poems and act."

Singer and composer Titiek Puspa: "What? You're asking me about 1996? Ha... ha... ha... It has given me a lot of energy to do all my abundant activities. So far, everything has gone well and about the year 1997, ha... ha... ha... let's see later."

National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo said: "I have nothing to regret about the past year. It was a momentous year for me because I was appointed National Police chief in early 1996. My great hope for 1997 is to be able to help make the general election a big success without serious incident. It's my jumbo wish."

I want to continue my efforts to encourage all police members to do their best in serving the public. On New Year's Eve, I will, as usual, supervise the hectic activities of my personnel all over the country."

State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said: "As a minister, I hope that offices of the Indonesian Forum for Environment will be founded nationwide next year."

"I personally have nothing to regret this year."

Noted soothsayer Gendeng Pamungkas said: "One of the most disappointing things for me in 1996 was the activities of university students working as 'intelligence dogs'. They penetrated non-governmental organizations and several demonstrations, including the one in Germany protesting violations of laborers' rights and land confiscation. They are bullshit and their works really hurt me. That's why I hope the authorities in 1997 can properly handle domestic problems. My other wish is that 1997 can be a milestone for Indonesian spiritualists."

Soothsayer Puteri Wong Kam Fu, alias Leoni Fatima, said: "I experienced one of the biggest regrets in my life this year (1996), which I can't reveal to anyone. It was personal and really hurt. As a soothsayer, of course, I know the journey and future of my life but as a human being I can't stop or get away from it. It's the wish of Allah, the Almighty. But I hope I have the power to recover from that experience in 1997. That's my wish."

Business tycoon Eka Tjipta Widjaja does not dwell on past unpleasant experiences. He is determined to live for today and looks forward to the future.

"I don't like to recall unpleasant things. Every day has its own challenge, that's what we have to keep in mind, not embarrassing or heartbreaking things," he said.

There is one thing about this year that particularly stands out in Eka's mind. "That is when I was awarded the Emerging Market CEO of the year by ING Bank in early October," he said. He was the first Indonesian to receive the award.

"For 1997, I hope all of my businesses run smoothly and, hopefully, run even better. Personally, I hope I live long, have good health and a good life," Eka said.

Indomobil Group's president Soebronto Laras said that 1996 was a very interesting year for him.

"There are three things in 1996 which quite shocked me, and all other businesspeople too, I'm sure. Firstly, the dramatic drop of the Japanese yen at the beginning of the year, which was followed by the rising of local banks' interest rates.

"But, the most shocking thing was the government's national car policy, it sure upset the local automotive market ... and boy, it was a big blow to me," Soebronto said.

For next year, he expects the government to maintain economic and political stability.

Ciputra, the tycoon and founder of the Jaya Group, said that he had no regrets in 1996.

"The year 1996 was the happiest in my life because I finished my 35-year duty as Jaya's chief executive. Furthermore, my health is very good.

"I hope that next year my fourth child will get married and I'll have my eighth grandchild. I also hope to maintain my good health.

"Next year, I intend to give my full concentration to making sculpture. I plan to spend half of my Sundays making sculptures because I visit my projects on Sundays. So far, I've produced six and next year I expect to produce 20 more.

The president of the state-owned domestic telecommunications carrier PT Telkom, Asman A. Nasution, said: "My single biggest regret concerning 1996 is the very low penetration of telecommunications services in Indonesia.

My hope for 1997 is an increase in telephone line density and provision of telecommunications facilities in remote villages.

Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, daughter of the country's first president, Sukarno, said: "The matter I regret most this year is the unhealthy political situation in the country. I hope that next year there will be substantial political changes."

AIDS counselor Nona Poorooe Utomo cited her disappointment over the lack of accurate information and education available to the two most risk-prone groups -- young adults in the prime of their lives and high school students from average middle class families.

She also urged government and nongovernment organizations to work more closely in the prevention of AIDS, which should be addressed as a public health issue.

Noted basketball promoter Ary Sudarsono said his biggest regret in 1996 was his breaking away from the Indonesian Basketball Association.

But he expressed optimism that the association would do better next year.

The 1996 Olympic gold medalist Rexy Mainaky said that his biggest regret this year, with partner Ricky Subagja, were his losses at the China Open and Hong Kong Open.

"We lacked preparation and concentration. But we won the Grand Prix Finals this year," said Rexy, who got married in October.

"I plan to regain my title in the Japan Open in January and the All England championships in March."

Purnomo, ojek (motorcycle-taxi) driver in Tangerang, West Java, said: "I may be one of the unluckiest among the lower-class people this year because I was ticketed by policemen four times for violating traffic rules, such as carrying passengers without helmets. I don't know what to say about my wish for 1997 but I do hope that God temporarily blinds policemen when I pass in front of them."