Tycoons support Habibie
JAKARTA (JP): The country's top conglomerates demonstrated their support for President B.J. Habibie yesterday and said they were encouraged by his commitment to protect all Indonesian citizens, including those of Chinese descent.
Property tycoon Ciputra said they assured the president that in their view, Indonesia's future remained very promising despite the current turmoil, and promised they would do their utmost to help him rebuild the economy.
The President reiterated the government's plan to ratify the United Nations anti-discrimination convention to lay the foundations for campaigns to banish the issue from Indonesian society in the future, Ciputra said.
"We have been hoping for that for a long time, (the convention will ensure equality so that) we can eat together with you. We... are very happy that President Habibie promised to put it into law," Ciputra told the media after meeting with Habibie at the Bina Graha presidential office along with the heads of 10 other conglomerates.
Also invited to the meeting were William Soeryadjaya, the former owner of Astra group; Suharso Gondokusumo; The Nin King, the head of Argo Pantes Manunggal; Modern Group's Samadikun Hartono; and Kaharudin Ongko.
Murdaya Widyawimarta, Budi Brasali, Subentra's Benny Suherman, Wiely Sugiharto, and Soejono Varinata from Djajanti Group were also invited.
Habibie used the meeting to exchange views on development strategies and to listen to their complaints.
He regularly meets with business leaders, including foreign investors, and usually invites them to be frank in their statements.
"We discussed the security problem related to our exports and then the creation of job opportunities," Ciputra said.
Tens of thousands of Chinese-Indonesians reportedly fled after the May riots which forced president Soeharto to step down and hand the presidency to Habibie.
About 1,200 people were killed during the riots. More than 160 women, mostly Chinese-Indonesians, were raped during the unrest that some observers believe was triggered by organized groups of people.
Habibie has agreed to set up an independent committee to investigate the incident.
Habibie has also appealed for Chinese-Indonesians to return to the country and has guaranteed their security.
However, in an interview with the Washington Post last week, Habibie warned that they might lose out on business opportunities if they did not return soon.
"If the Chinese community does not come back because they do not trust their own country and society, I can not force them, nobody can force them...But do you really think that we will then die?" he asked rhetorically.
The statement sparked controversy. Several observers said the remark would only worsen the current situation.
"On May 14 (the peak of the riots), confidence was at a low ebb but it has now begun to grow again," Ciputra noted.
"After the general election in May 1999 the country's economy will take off again," Ciputra added.
Murdaya, however, complained that the problem of looting, including the plundering of export containers that has emerged in the aftermath of the riots had not yet been fully resolved.
"Our production costs have become very competitive as a result of the weakening rupiah... (We could take advantage of this) provided we can guarantee domestic security and if our containers are not looted," Murdaya noted.
William also gave some concrete advise to Habibie. He said tourism was one of the most lucrative businesses and could be improved if the government allowed charter planes to fly directly into Bali and Yogyakarta.
"Then tourists would no longer have to go to Bali or Yogyakarta via Jakarta or Solo," he said. (prb)