Competition is normal in politics: Soeharto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Competition in politics is normal so long as
\nethics and rules are observed, President Soeharto said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"It is normal for every organization contesting the general
\nelection to want to grab as many seats as possible,\" Soeharto
\nsaid, speaking in his capacity as patron chief of the ruling
\npolitical group Golkar.<\/p>\n
\"Competition exists even in politics,\" he said at a reception
\nto mark Golkar's 32nd anniversary at the Jakarta Convention
\nCenter.<\/p>\n
\"But competition should be based on political ethics and the
\nrules that we have all agreed,\" he said in a speech broadcast
\nnationwide by all six television stations in the country.<\/p>\n
About 9,000 Golkar members, dressed in yellow, packed the
\nJakarta Convention Center.<\/p>\n
Among the guests were chairman of the United Development Party
\n(PPP) Ismail Hasan Metareum, chairman of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) Soerjadi, and thousands of first-time
\nvoters.<\/p>\n
Also on hand were chiefs of ruling parties of several friendly
\ncountries, including the UMNO of Malaysia, the PAP of Singapore,
\nthe CPC of the People's Republic of China, the CPV of the
\nSocialist Republic of Vietnam, Lakas NUCD of the Philippines, the
\nWorkers Party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and
\nthe New Korea Party of the Republic of Korea.<\/p>\n
Golkar leaders are determined that the organization should win
\nat least 70.02 percent of the total votes in the general
\nelection, scheduled for May next year.<\/p>\n
Chairman Harmoko said in his speech at the reception that the
\ntargeted percentage was based on an objective calculation of
\npeople's support for Golkar.<\/p>\n
The leaders insisted that Golkar should retain a controlling
\nmajority in the 500-seat House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Golkar has won all five elections held under President
\nSoeharto. In 1992, it took 68 percent of the votes, a big margin
\nbut a drop from the 73 percent it won in 1987.<\/p>\n
Golkar is contesting the election with the United Development
\nParty and the Indonesian Democratic Party. Only 425 seats are up
\nfor grabs as the other 75 are reserved for the Armed Forces,
\nwhose members do not vote.<\/p>\n
Acceptable behavior<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that in facing the election next year, Golkar
\n\"should know what is acceptable behavior, and what is not, what
\nis appropriate and what is not.\"<\/p>\n
\"The general election should always create a sense of unity
\nand cohesion.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that the general election will not create wounds
\namong any group in society.\"<\/p>\n
Soeharto emphasized the five election victories that Golkar
\nhas managed to notch up since 1971.<\/p>\n
\"Golongan Karya has been entrusted by the people with the
\nbiggest share of seats in the various representative bodies.<\/p>\n
\"This means that the people accept the policies, the strategy
\nand the programs that Golkar offer them to improve their physical
\nand spiritual wellbeing,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said the comfortable majority that Golkar has enjoyed
\nin the House of Representatives, the People's Consultative
\nAssembly and the regional legislative councils means it \"has a
\nmandate from the people to look after their aspirations and
\ninterests.<\/p>\n
\"This mandate doesn't come by itself. The mandate is a
\nblessing and an acknowledgement, something that came about from
\nits tireless work and dedication, whose fruits have already been
\nenjoyed by the people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto reminded the audience that Golkar was founded 32
\nyears ago to carry out a \"total correction to the political
\nsituation that was filled with conflict and upheavals.\"<\/p>\n
Since then, Golkar has had the honor of receiving the support
\nfrom a majority of voters, he said.<\/p>\n
Stability is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve the
\nnation's goals and objectives as stated in the Pancasila ideology
\nand the 1945 Constitution, he added.<\/p>\n
Soeharto assigned a new role to Golkar. \"We should develop
\nGolkar into a force for renewal and for modernization in this
\ncountry,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto in his speech did not refer to Golkar's decision to
\nset criteria for its candidate in the 1998 presidential election.<\/p>\n
In its political statement read by Golkar member Rien Herdiani
\nAlfian, Golkar also set criteria for the future president. The
\ncriteria include strong vision about how to maintain the unity of
\nthis very diverse nation, acceptability to all groups in society,
\nand leadership qualities recognized both at home and in abroad.<\/p>\n
\"Most important of all is that the candidate must be an
\nexperienced person with a proven record of success in
\nimplementing the ideals of the New Order government,\" the
\nstatement said.<\/p>\n
The political statement, however, did not mention age as a
\ncriterium.<\/p>\n
While stressing that Golkar will not announce its presidential
\ncandidate until election time in March 1998, Harmoko on Friday
\nsaid that the incumbent President Soeharto \"to date, is still the
\nnation's best son.\"<\/p>\n
Soeharto, 75 years old and widowed in April, has not publicly
\nannounced his intention after the end of his current term in
\noffice. Each time the question was asked of him, he simply states
\nthat the matter should be decided \"by the people\". (imn\/emb)<\/p>",
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