Special team needed to settle crisis: Bambang

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)