Special team needed to settle crisis: Bambang

JAKARTA (JP): Leading businessman Bambang Trihatmodjo called yesterday for the establishment of a special team of professionals to help the government tackle the economic crisis.

Bambang, who is President Soeharto's second son, told reporters on the sidelines of a People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) meeting yesterday that such a team was needed to follow up on the President's general economic policies.

He also called on his father to include players from the private sector along with government officials. "I really hope Pak Harto will set up a special team to handle the crisis," he said.

Egged on by reporters, he confirmed that the reason for the team was the current cabinet ministers' reportedly slow response and poor initiative in handling the crisis.

"That's the reason why I suggested the establishment of the special team," said Bambang, who was also hit by the crisis when a bank he partially owned, Bank Andromeda, was closed down by the government on Nov. 1.

Indonesia's economic turmoil took a turn for the worse last week and earlier this week when rumors spread that President Soeharto had died and that a coup attempt was brewing.

After weeks of taking a batter, the rupiah rallied yesterday and increased against the U.S. dollar following President Soeharto's first public appearance after a 10-day rest. The President led the graduation of the Indonesian military academy at the palace compound.

"I expect this (appearance) will help restore public trust in the government and its economic policies," Bambang said. "It should also end all rumors about my father's health."

Analysts have called on the government to restore public confidence in the market, its policies and the currency.

Businessman Sofjan Wanandi said recently that one way to restore confidence was to end uncertainty on Indonesia's future leadership. He said dominant Golkar should immediately announce its vice presidential candidate.

But Bambang, who is also a Golkar legislator at the MPR, said this was not necessary.

"We already have the mechanism that vice presidential candidates will be announced in the MPR general assembly next March," he said. "There's not long to wait, only about two and a half months."

Golkar chairman Harmoko and senior member Akbar Tanjung also dismissed the possibility of announcing the vice presidential candidate now.

"We have to uphold our political system. Constitutionally, the vice presidential candidate will be announced in an MPR general assembly," Harmoko said. "Golkar will consult its vice presidential candidate with the elected president next March."

Harmoko said there was no guarantee that announcing the vice presidential candidate ahead of the schedule would help stabilize the country's economy. (imn)