INDONESIAN President Suharto has cast doubt on the future of a development partnership among Singapore, the Malaysian State of Johor and Indonesia.
He asked how it was that Indonesia as a big nation ''still depended on a small nation''. While he did not name that nation it was seen as an obvious reference to Singapore.
''This is certainly not in line with our goal and because of that there has been an emergence in thinking as to how Batam can be developed within the framework of removing that dependence,'' he said.
Mr Suharto's remarks came at the end of a tour of Batam Island in Indonesia's Riau province, which has been the key element of the Growth Triangle.
In the past, the development partnership has been hailed as a model of regional co-operation.
Mr Suharto's surprising statement follows criticism within Indonesia that the Government was giving special attention to Batam at the expense of other areas of Indonesia.