The new reformist quartet

Since Oct. 21, 1999 this country has a new reformist quartet which will guide its people to enter the third millennium, after two days of drama full of tears of disappointment and joy. As many feared all along, the decisions were indeed taken by people outside the building of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), but the judges were on the streets.

Politically, the quartet is the most ideal team to cope with the enormous challenges ahead. The time to kiss each other should be brief and businesslike. The new government should now first bring the economy again to normalcy. International trust in the private sector must be restored quickly, foreign investment be doubly encouraged and exports stepped up.

Naturally, there will be "dirty" leftovers to sweep clean, and bureaucracy to be retrained mentally. The whole restructuring program, and all the political parties' ambitions must now be concentrated on welfare programs, if they want to still retain the reformist spirit.

It is expected that President Abdurrahman Wahid will head the fight against corruption in favor of modest and honest living. And Vice President Megawati should press for greater regional autonomy and education, among other things. MPR Speaker Amien Rais should not stop earnestly and honestly fighting against malpractice and continue to criticize whoever violates ethics and morality. While House Speaker Akbar Tandjung's first priority is to coordinate the aspirations of the political parties' welfare program, and to ensure that at the end of the day the ideal of a new Indonesia will materialize.

It is in this context we should stop for a moment to recall the students' great contribution, whose reformist spirit and sacrifices (in blood and lives) have made all the joy the nation is now experiencing possible.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta