Roeslan blames RI tycoons over 'money politics'

JAKARTA (JP): A respected former minister blamed Indonesian business tycoons for the pervasive "money politics" here, lamenting how their loyalty is aimed only toward their own interests.

Roeslan Abdulgani told a discussion on heroic values here Saturday that the clout of Indonesian tycoons has grown to the extent that they are now able to help establish political situations to their own advantage.

"They dole out money to politicians and officials, here and abroad," Roeslan said, referring to U.S. President Bill Clinton's "Indonesian Connection".

Prior to President Clinton's reelection earlier this month, the White House was put on the defensive by suggestions that his friendship with Indonesian businessman James Riady helped bring big corporate contributions to the Democrat party's coffers with the aim of influencing U.S. foreign policy.

The reports on the donations created debates here as well, with a great number of businessmen saying they saw nothing wrong with donating money for such purposes.

"It (the donation) is an example of how pervasive money politics is and how pragmatic, opportunistic the tycoons are," Roeslan was quoted by Antara as saying.

In other parts of his discussion, Roeslan did not make specific reference to Riady but spoke about businessmen in general.

"Tycoons' only target is money and their ideology is to amass wealth. Their patriotism is: love toward regions with money. Their nationalism is: loyalty toward those who have money," said Roeslan further.

Roeslan was foreign minister between 1956 and 1967, and Indonesian ambassador to the United Nations between 1967 and 1971. He is also former head of BP7, an agency entrusted with the task of disseminating the state-ideology Pancasila.

"The global-international conglomerates are those who believe in supernationalism, transnationalism and multinationalism," he said, adding that he was concerned that such tycoons may want to "upset" existing nationalism in developing countries, including Indonesia.

Roeslan also said some Indonesian tycoons were not adverse to colluding with power holders in exploiting foreign capital bolstered by domestic banking support obtained through "facilities" exclusively for smaller and medium-level businessmen.

"These people are not independent capitalists like those who developed naturally in European countries, the United States or Japan," Roeslan told some 800 participants in the discussion.

In another part of his discussion, Roeslan said people feel the widest gap as occurring between what their leaders say and what they actually do.

"The public has heard how their leaders say one thing and then go and do another thing," he said. "It's why our people are now more critical and outspoken."

He said leaders should introspect and be brave enough to correct themselves. He also called on community and national leaders to learn and to overcome gaps that have emerged as byproducts of national development.

Roeslan identified other forms of gaps, including those of wealth and of opportunities to express opinions. (swe)