Sabtu, 08 Mei 2010

REAL SECTOR PINS HOPES ON NEW FINANCE MINISTER

By Andi Abdussalam

           Jakarta, May 9 (ANTARA) -  While President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has yet to announce the successor of outgoing Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, businesses have expressed hope that the new minister would have good knowledge not only of fiscal and monetary matters but also about the business world so that the   real sector could also develop well.

         "Ideally, the new finance minister should master not only  fiscal and monetary matters but also the business world so that the fiscal and monetary polices can be directed to encourage  the development of the real sector," Suryo Bambang Sulisto of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), said.

          The new minister should understand how businesses run globally and how to harmonize the macro/micro economic as well as the fiscal/monetary policies with those of the real sector.

         "If businesses need incentives in the tax field, for example, a finance minister must be able to make the incentive effective and stimulate the development of the business world. In essence, the government's policies must be able to create a conducive investment climate," Suryo who is also general chairman of the Association of  Indonesian Indigenous Businessmen (HPPI), said.

         The finance minister should also be acceptable to the market. Market players will give their response. "As long as the successor has capabilities and integrity, market players will respond  with positive sentiment," he said.

         On Wednesday, when Mulyani announced her resignation, market players gave a negative response. The composite stocks price index at the Indonesian Stocks Exchange (BEI) and the rupiah exchange rate against the US dollar fell significantly.

         "But this is a normal thing because market players have not yet had a clear picture of the minister's successor. After all, the announcement came all of a sudden. I am confident that the market would return to normal as soon as the President appoints a capable successor," the HIPPI chairman said.

          The expectation that the new minister would come from those who understand the real sector is also expressed by noted businessman Aburizal Bakrie who is also former welfare minister and is currently general chairman of the Golkar party.

         According to the Golkar leader, the new finance minister should have a good understanding about the development of the real sector in the country. "The task of a finance minister is not to manage monetary matters because that is  Bank Indonesia's job," Aburizal said.

         He said the finance minister should of course understand fiscal matters in which monetary issues were also regulated. In this case, the president would choose the best son or daughter of the nation who is able to manage the country's financial affairs.

        "What is certain is that he/she will come from the professional, meaning the one who really knows the financial sector," he said.

        For this, President Yudhoyono will choose a candidate from professionals to replace Mulyani. "What is certain is that he/she will come from the professional, meaning the one who really knows the financial sector,"  Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said.

        The view was taken because the President saw the post as very strategic and important with regard to national development efforts. "So it will be more ideal if the one who will be at the post is the most knowledgeable about the financial sector and economy in general," he said.

         Based on custom or tradition so far the position is always filled by professionals. "So it is almost certain the person will come from there," the presidential spokesman said.

         The Democrat Party, of which President Yudhoyono is chief patron, has suggested that Mulyani's successor should be picked from the professional circles.

         PD associate chairman Anas Urbaningrum said his party had suggested that the president pick Sri Mulyani's replacement not from a political party but from among professionals who had competence, honesty, and ability to maintain good political communication with parliament and political parties.

         "If we are asked to name a candidate, we would say we do not have any particular name to propose because we leave it entirely to the president," Anas said.

         According to PD General Chairman Hadi Utomo, a technical post is usually taken up by a professional. "We hope that it would come from the professionals so that the monetary and fiscal policies could run well like now," Utomo said.

        He refused to suggest a name but said that the media had mentioned several names such as Head of the Finance Ministry's fiscal polices Anggito Abimanyu, Senior Bank Indonesia Deputy Darmin Nasution and Bank Mandiri President Director Agus Martowardojo.

         Until Saturday, the president had not yet revealed a name to be appointed new finance minister. However, according to Anas Urbaningrum, the president already has the name of the person he would appoint to replace outgoing Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

         "I am certain the President already knows who will replace outgoing Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati," he said.

         Last Wednesday, Sri Mulyani announced her appointment as a managing director of the World Bank and tendered her resignation to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The president accepted her resignation.

          Earlier, World Bank President Robert Zoellick had announced the appointment of Sri Mulyai as a World Bank managing director who would oversee three regions in Latin America and Caribbean, Asia-Pacific and North Africa.

          She will replace Juan Jose Daboub who will complete his term of office on June 30, 2010. Mulyani is expected to join the World Bank beginning on June 1, 2010.

    (T.014/A/HAJM/22:20/H-YH) 08-05-2010 22:23:4

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