Last Monday, Governor Zainal Basri Palaguna's face beamed with delight. To members of the media, the South Sulawesi governor disclosed that President Abdurrahman Wahid had agreed to convert Tonasa Cement (PT Semen Tonasa) into a state-owned enterprise (SOE). "This is the wish of all the South Sulawesi people," said Palaguna enthusiastically.

Is there a hidden motive behind Palaguna's effort to fight for an SOE? Actually, there is: to spin-off Ton