Rupiah crisis tops list of public figures' regrets

Rupiah crisis tops list of public figures' regrets

JAKARTA (JP): What has been your single biggest regret this
year? The economic crisis appears to top the list for most people
because it spared almost no one. Many people are now regretting
that they did not join in the rush to buy dollars when the
rupiah's value began its free fall. Those few who did, have made
more than 100 percent profit from the situation.

The Jakarta Post talked to many public figures about their
biggest regrets for 1997 and their hopes for 1998. Some would
only talk about their professional lives, but one or two also
talked their personal lives.

Emha Ainun Najib, Islamic poet, singer, songwriter:

My biggest regret this year is that I was not able to do what
was expected of me. I could address thousands of people at a time
when I went on stage, and I could reach them. But I could not
influence the course of events because leaders of the middle and
upper classes in this country have been at each other's throats.
They are more concerned with saving their own hides than with the
current situation.

What I am most impressed with about myself this year is that
God let me make more friends and contacts with the people.

The most important time for me this year was when I found out
that my wife was going to have a child. And my son, 19, has gone
to Canada to further his studies.

Ishadi SK, senior vice president at TPI private TV station:

I don't have any impressive personal achievements this year.
In fact, I consider myself almost a total failure. I did not
finish my doctorate studies as I had hoped, because of the
preoccupation with the Sea Games. This is my biggest regret. But
I am quite satisfied with achievements at TPI.

I was born in the Year of the Goat, and this is the Year of
the Rat, and they say goats have a bad time in the year of the
rat.

What made me weep this year was the havoc wreaked upon our
nation by the monetary crisis. This nation is what TPI stands
for. I can't understand why we, as a nation, are finding
difficulties in handling it. Why can't we just have faith and
ignore rumors.

What are my hopes for 1998? That the rupiah becomes stronger
and the economy recovers quickly.

If I had any spare money, I would buy a plot of land. I love
farming.

Ramli, fashion designer:

My most impressive achievement this year was when I received
the Karya Turis award from Pak Sutiyoso (Jakarta governor). It
caught me by surprise because I wasn't expecting it.

What made me cry this year? The death of Elly Sundari (fashion
writer for Bisnis Indonesia' who died in the SilkAir plane crash
in South Sumatra this month). She was a friend of mine and she
was very fond of wearing white kebaya (traditional dress). She
often ordered them from me. I also wept when I heard that
Princess Diana had died.

My biggest regrets this year were the monetary crisis and the
forest fires. I had to skip a lecture in West Sumatra because I
could not bring myself to go (because of the haze).

My hope for 1998 is for the rupiah to strengthen and for the
economy to stabilize. Many materials for clothes are charged in
dollars and we are earning in rupiah.

My dream is for Jakarta to be accepted and recognized as one
of the world's biggest fashion centers. I know this has a long
way to go, but we (designers) are doing our bit to achieve that
goal. I also wish that Indonesians accept, wear and love
Indonesian-made clothes. I think it's time for people to realize
that Indonesian clothes are quality clothes too.

Mas Achmad Santosa, executive director of the Indonesian
Center for Environmental Law:

The most impressive thing for me this year was the genesis of
the new environmental law. For me, it is the only legislation
produced in the last 30 years that has really given so much
empowerment to the people.

My biggest regret was the forest fires. There was no
coordination between the related authorities in tackling this
disaster. It's horrible.

My 1998 resolution is for me and my organization to fight
harder to push for more political openness and public
involvement.

We've got a very good environmental law which guarantees many
civil rights for the people.

We also plan to file class action lawsuits against companies
for burning the forests. We've invited class action lawsuit
experts from the United States to come and train us in February."

Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo:

My biggest regret this year was the plunge of the rupiah's
exchange rate. It has not affected me personally but it has hurt
the transmigration program. It has also affected corporations,
who have had to layoff their workers.

My hope for 1998 is for a stable rupiah at an exchange rate
that will stimulate economic growth and help workers.

On a personal note, I'm finishing my term in March as a member
of the Sixth Development Cabinet. I will use the remaining time
to consolidate the ministry, to help whoever takes the helm after
March.

Scientist Karlina Leksono:

I have no personal regrets this year, but there are many
social problems that we all have to contend with, such as the
poor treatment of workers, the fate of downtrodden women, illegal
abortion practices. These problems have existed since time
immemorial, but there has been little progress.

The monetary crisis has also hit many people this year. I'm no
exception.

I'm a scientist and I earn money by writing. Most of that
money I use to buy books. I used to buy two or three foreign
books a month and I subscribe to some six foreign journals. All
that costs me Rp 1 million a month. But now their prices have
doubled or even tripled and that's crazy.

It has also affected my family. Now we rarely dine out because
we have to cut down on our recreational spending.

My personal hopes: I want to teach better and write better.

Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah:

I'm only three months in this job so I can't really comment
about the situation this year.

But my hope for 1998 is for people in the mayoralty and in all
of Jakarta to become more prosperous and to live in peace.

I will personally keep on working with the plan of my
predecessor. I hope that there won't be any more evictions and
riots like we have had this year.

Karman Pamurahardjo, research analyst of Harita Securities:

Regrets? The plunging share prices and the rupiah's exchange
rate show that the Indonesian economy is not as sound as we have
all assumed.

We, in the securities industry, have had to bear the impact of
the crisis because there were fewer transactions on the stock
market during the currency crisis.

Resolution? Live frugally. I won't spend too much money, as I
did in previous years. I mean, there will be no big party for the
year's end.

My hope for 1998 is for the crisis to finish soon and for
business to return to normal.

Surya Martara Tjahaja, head of sales of Usaha Bersama
Sekuritas:

My biggest regret this year was that I did not anticipate the
currency turmoil at all. None of us saw it coming.

But the crisis has at least taught us a valuable lesson, to
sharpen our ability to analyze situations. This is my hope for
1998; that we are in a better position to avoid the major
financial losses that we incurred this year.

On a personal note, there will be no big party this coming
month because, like many people, I'm having some liquidity
problems.

Titus Sarijanto, director general of forest utilization at the
Ministry of Forestry:

My biggest regret is that we lost over 165,000 hectares of
forests through fires.

What saddened me most was that most of the fires were caused
by carelessness, by our own people, our timber and plantation
companies.

I hope we have all learned our lessons well this year and that
there will be no more forest fires in 1998.

I also hope that 1998 will be a brighter year for our nation.
That we can overcome the economic crisis and that we live
peacefully for the whole year.

On a personal level, I hope to be able to exercise more
regularly next year. I like sports, especially martial arts, but
I have not had time to exercise these past six months because of
my work load, with the forest fires. I need to exercise, anything
will do. It doesn't have to be martial arts or tennis, just a
regular walk will be fine.

I want to be able to do my job more systematically. And I hope
to carry out my job to the best of my abilities.

Soelarto Hadisumarto, chairman of the Indonesian National Air
Carriers Association:

My two biggest regrets are the Garuda and SilkAir crashes.
We've had too many disasters this year. And the currency crisis
has also affected the commercial aviation industry, which has
seen no growth at all this year. I think this is sad.

Any hope for 1998? I am a positive man, I believe there is
always a silver lining behind every cloud. The government and
financial analysts believe that by the middle of next year, our
economy will recover.

I grew up during the Dutch colonial era, when the conditions
were much worse than now. But I believe this is just cycle that
happens at the beginning or end of a century. Things will be
better after we pass this hard time.

Writer Satyagraha Hoerip, man of letters:

I regret nothing in my life because I believe in God's
benevolence. I have a simple goal in life: enough food and drink
every day, and to help ordinary folks. I never dream of becoming
a wealthy person.

My resolution: I will become a publisher of books on
literature if someone gives me Rp 285 million.

Zumrotin K. Susilo, executive director of the Indonesian
Consumers Foundation (YLKI):

I have felt a great deal of frustration this year because we
could not push the bill on consumer protection passed the layers
of bureaucracy. We don't have the financial means needed to bribe
the government officials.

The economic crisis was also a major concern this year. It
seems that prices go up each time I go to the market.

But I'm glad that I've kept part of my savings in dollar
accounts, so the currency crisis has not really affected me that
much.

My hope for 1998 is to see younger people running the
government next year after the change of cabinet. And I hope the
government will be able to handle the situation and prevent
massive layoffs.

My resolution is to keep backing YLKI even though I've been
here for 21 years, and I hope consumers will establish their own
association, like the one established for the association of
telephone consumers and others.

Emmy Hafild, chairwoman of the Indonesian Forum for
Environment (Walhi):

The forest fires are my biggest regret this year because they
affected not only Walhi's programs, but also the country's
environmental condition. We can no longer afford to ignore forest
fires as in previous years.

On a personal level, the currency crisis shocked me because
I've put all my savings in rupiah. Me and my family have been
saving up to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. But, with the crisis. I
don't think we can make it to Mecca next year.

My hope for 1998 is for Walhi to further strengthen its
presence outside Jakarta.

On a personal level, I'm hoping for an economic recovery,
because I fear that more people will lose their jobs the longer
this crisis goes on.

I also hope to spend more time with my family. This year, I
spent too much of my time working. My child is already
complaining. If it's possible, I want to travel with my family.

Candra Wijaya, Indonesia's number one men's doubles shuttler
with partner Sigit Budiarto:

I think 1997 belongs to me and Sigit. We started the year by
winning the Chinese Taipei Open, and ended it by winning the
Grand Prix titles here this month.

My dream came true when we won the World Championships in
Glasgow in May. I think I also saved Indonesia's name because we
were the only Indonesian winners in the event. It was unfortunate
that we lost the Sudirman Cup championship prior to the World
Championships.

I won three golds in the 19th SEA Games in October by winning
the men's team, the individual mixed doubles and men's doubles
events.

I hope in 1998 I can retain my title in the Chinese Taipei
Open and win the All England championships in March. But my main
ambition is to join the country's squad for the Thomas Cup and
bring home the cup. After that, I have to concentrate on winning
gold at the Asian Games. (team)