Timor sedan

On page 1 of The Jakarta Post on June 5, 1997, I read that as of the 1997/1998 fiscal year all government institutions that plan to buy sedans must choose Timors. As an Indonesian I am very supportive of this idea even though it seems monopolistic. If the Timor becomes very popular and widely used by Indonesians I believe it will create employment and reduce the countries dependency on imports.

I hope that this ruling will also apply to high ranking government officials like ministers. If our ministers drive Timors, I am sure ordinary people will follow.

As I mentioned in my letter to the Post a few months ago, the French President drives a Renault and the Indian Prime Minister an Indian made car for their official cars. This shows there is nothing wrong for our high ranking government officials driving Timors as their official car. I am dreaming that in the first meeting of the new cabinet in 1998 there will a lot of Timors parked in the Bina Graha parking lot.

I also hope the maker of Timors becomes more professional and efficient effective in order to attract and get sympathy from domestic buyers. If we get a relatively good car at a reasonable price I do not think people will choose another make.

As we are all aware that after the launching of the Timor last year the price of the cars in Indonesia dropped slightly. Car makers have dictated the market in Indonesia for a long time and enjoyed big profits. It is time the situation changed. But if the maker of Timors works unprofessionally, car users will simply be getting out of tiger's mouth only to fall into crocodile's mouth.

Viva Timor sedan.

M SULHAN ASKANDAR

Jakarta