From: tapol at gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
Indonesian Observer November 9, 1999
Lee, Kissinger, Volcker asked to be RI advisers
JAKARTA (IO) - Economic czar Kwik Kian Gie told reporters yesterday the government is asking scores of world figures to become advisers to help President Abdurrahman 'Gus Dur' Wahid speed up the country's economic recovery.
The inclusion of such widely respected international figures would give Indonesia "a great help" in its economic recovery program, Kwik said after a cabinet meeting on the economy, finance and industry which was chaired by Vice-President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
"The involvement of such international figures means the government will get a second opinion.
"As you know, the president is set to form the Economic, Social and Security Councils which would then provide a second opinion for the Cabinet. But globally, the international [community] also demands a Council that gives a second opinion, so that in facing the IMF and the World Bank, we will have a sound board supported by highly competent, internationally recognized and well-experienced figures," Kwik said.
When asked about the names, Kwik said: "Please don't mention the names, it is still uncertain whether they will accept or not."
However, sources familiar with the matter told the paper, the government has approached Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, former chairman of the US Federal Reserve Paul Volcker and former US State Secretary Henry Kissinger.
Economic gurus
In another development, Secretary General of the National Economic Council Yusuf Faisal named yesterday the economists who will join the Council.
"It will be a 17-strong Council chaired by Subiakto Tjakrawerdaya with seven senior advisers and 10 advisers," Faisal told the Jakarta First Channel-Radio Trijaya.
Senior advisers will include Prof. Emil Salim, Prof. Soebroto, Prof. Boediono, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Abdillah Thoha, Faisal Basri, and Kuntoro Mangkusubroto.
Advisers may include Anggito Abimanyu, M. Ichsan, Faturrachman and Komaradjaja. "Until now they haven't given a formal rejection to the proposal," Faisal said.