The government of President B.J. Habibie is already being forced to dismantle parts of the vast business empire built up by Suharto and his family. Corporations controlled by the former president's ethnic Chinese cronies are under scrutiny. State monopolies are being slowly taken apart. But reformers inside and outside the military argue that the businesses encourage corruption and violate the officers' oath. A military withdrawal can open up many opportunities for the private sector.
Soldiers have their fingers in almost every industry.
The navy, air force and police, as well as the reserve command Kostrad and elite commando unit Kopassus have their own empires. That's not counting the tens of thousands of distribution cooperatives across the country and the security and debt-collection services stretching from small corner stores to big companies. Then there are the informal arrangements - soldiers acting as personal bodyguards and the like. The military's influence extends to the boards of corporations, many owned by ethnic Chinese, which co-opt retired and even serving generals and other officers. He went on to build his own Nugra Santana conglomerate.