Why A.S. Hikam?

Why A.S. Hikam?

From Republika

There is a big question as to why A.S. Hikam was chosen as State Minister for Research and Technology in the "National Unity" Cabinet. It should be realized that the challenge of the free market within the ASEAN region during the next four years (to 2004) is quite obvious. The challenge of the global free market by the year 2010 is even greater. And the government's effective performance in the free market era depends, to a great extent, on the effective use of science and technology in domestic products.

In fact, there are still a lot of research and technology experts in this country who possess a vision for the development of science and technology. Obviously they make a much greater contribution to research and technology, quantitatively and qualitatively, than A.S. Hikam, whose vision in this area (let alone in high technology) is still questionable. Does his background of political science and literature make him capable of developing science and technology so that we can compete in the global free market? I doubt it.

We have reason to worry that the concept of making Indonesia a strong and advanced nation with adequate science and technology will become an empty dream, mainly because this field is handled by the wrong man. Quo vadis science and technology? To be concrete, why A.S. Hikam?

HERMAN SUSILO

Chairman of Students Council

School of Mathematics and Physics

Airlangga University

Surabaya