Is Jakarta serious about probing Suharto's alleged billions? No, says BBC correspondent in Jakarta Jonathan Head, in the radio station's East Asia Today programme. Here are excerpts from the programme:

Q: Jonathan, how serious is President Habibie about getting to the bottom of former President Suharto's wealth?

A: I think he's very serious about being seen to be trying to get to the bottom of it at this very last stage in what may be the last few months of his administration.

I think Indonesians are very sceptical about this mission by the Justice Minister and the Attorney-General in Switzerland ... the Attorney-General and the Justice Minister are arriving in Switzerland and empty-handed, more or less going to the Swiss authorities and saying: "All we know is what is in the Time magazine" and the Swiss authorities aren't empowered to launch any kind of investigation without more details. One Indonesian magazine has described this rather appropriately as "Mission Impossible".

Q: So, is this being seen simply as a somewhat cynical ploy to appease voters before the election?

A: Entirely and nothing more I think. The credibility of the government with regard to investigating Mr Suharto is absolutely at rock bottom ... The fact that it's been shy of doing nothing at all, apart from politely summoning Mr Suharto's family and listening to what they have to say, has certainly aroused a great deal of anger and scepticism.

Q: Anger and scepticism, but how much attention are ordinary Indonesians giving the search for the Suharto billions?

A: A lot now. The Time magazine article has been widely circulated. In fact Time magazine sold out and there are photocopies of the articles going round ... It's become a very big issue indeed.

Indonesians as a whole tend to believe – perhaps because it is the most sensational thing to believe – that Mr Suharto became very rich indeed.

And whichever government takes power – after these elections and the long process in choosing another President – will have to address the issue as well although, invariably, they are not going to suffer the same taints and the same sort of scepticism that Mr Habibie, a very close friend of Mr Suharto, has suffered over the past year.