GOLKAR URGES PRESIDENT TO NAME BI GOVERNOR

Jakarta Forum - Jakarta, The Golkar Party has urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to immediately name somebody to the post of Bank Indonesia (BI) governor which has been vacant since June 2009.

The party`s treasurer, Setya Novanto, said here on Friday the President should immediately fill the post as it had remained vacant long enough since Boediono relinquished it to become Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono running mate in the presidential race last year.

"The sooner, the better," Novanto said on the sidelines of a soccer match to highlight the party`s 42th anniversary.

He said supervision of the banking world by the central bank was not yet optimal and therefore banks` lending rates had remained very high despite the fact that BI had several times cut its benchmark rate.

"The high rate creates difficulties for businessmen resulting in declining production in the industrial sector," he said.

Asked who would be the right person for the post, Novanto said Golkar had not thought that far.

He said Golkar would not object if one of its cadres was chosen for it but the party had not thought that far.

"In principle Golkar will give its best cadre," he said.

Regarding which Golkar member would be the best candidate , he said, it was the party`s chairman who would know this.

He said Golkar trusted the President`s eventual choice for the post and therefore was leaving the matter to him.

Source: Antara News