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)