POLITICS-LINKED PURCHASES CURB IMPACT OF CRISIS

Makassar, Feb 23 (ANTARA) - A noted Indonesian business figure said here on Sunday that politics-linked purchases ahead of the legislative and presidential elections this year benefited the country with regard to cushioning the impact of current global economic crisis.

Business tycoon Tanri Abeng said here on Sunday that purchases would make circulation of money in the community stable.
"The amount of funds channeled by the government for the elections helps save the state from the impact of the crisis," he said.
He said the elections would benefit the country in terms of the domestic economy with regard to the current crisis.
He said the purchases made or to be made by legislative candidates that would compete in the legislative election on April 9 would benefit the country's economy as they would increase money in circulation.
"Imagine how many challenges there are in Indonesia. If each candidate spends Rp100 million to Rp500 million how much money would circulate in the community," the former member of the Regional Legislative Council said.
He said it was not impossible for candidates who had funds abroad would withdraw them to support their effort to win a seat.
Tanri only reminded that the government continued maintaining domestic political and economic stability. "If the condition is maintained God willing Indonesia will be saved from the crisis," he said.
He said the country's condition was still better than that of other countries in Asia such as Malaysia and Singapore. He said low income contribution from the country's exports to crisis-ridden countries which constituted only 25 percent was considered beneficial to the country.
Compared to the situation in Malaysia where exports contributed around 60 percent of that country's income and Singapore even higher, Indonesia is still quite safe, he said.