Tycoon Eka pledges support for Golkar<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A top business tycoon expressed his readiness to
\nsupport the ruling Golkar party in the upcoming general election
\ncampaign, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
Eka Tjipta Widjaja, owner of the Sinar Mas Group, the number
\ntwo conglomerate in Indonesia after the Salim Group, said
\nThursday evening: \"I became a big entrepreneur because of the New
\nOrder and Golkar which are both led by President Soeharto.\"<\/p>\n
\"Before that, I was only a street vendor. This is why I want
\nto help Golkar,\" he said in a discussion on people's economic
\nempowerment sponsored by the group.<\/p>\n
He further said he had no reason not to extend assistance to
\nGolkar, which \"always gives attention to the low-income society.\"<\/p>\n
He recalled that before the New Order administration, there
\nwere some 70 million people living in poverty. \"But now, there
\nare only about 11.5 million people (of the 200 million
\npopulation) living below the poverty line.\"<\/p>\n
The tycoon expressed his hope that in five years no one would
\nbe living below that line anymore.<\/p>\n
Asked how much he gave to the ruling party in the 1992
\nelection campaign, he said he could not remember. \"I never count
\nthe money I spend (for Golkar),\" he said.<\/p>\n
He reminded the forum he was a cadre, though he could not
\nremember his membership number. \"That's why it's obligatory for
\nme to help Golkar,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, he refused to be a campaigner because \"I am not good
\nat it. In smaller meetings such as this I could speak, but in
\nfront of a mass of people, no. I'd be too nervous. If I'm chosen
\nto canvass for votes, Golkar might lose votes instead.\"<\/p>\n
Asked whether he was ready to be active in politics, Eka said:
\n\"I know nothing about politics. All I know is trade.\"<\/p>\n
Also attending the discussion was another leading businessman
\ncum Golkar leader, Fadel Muhammad.<\/p>\n
Eka was among a handful of businessmen honored as top
\ntaxpayers. The total assets of his companies amount to Rp 19,500
\nbillion and his personal assets reportedly amount to US$ 1.1
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
\"Even though I have millions of dollars, I never ride
\nexecutive class. I choose economy class to save money,\" he said.
\n\"Once, I reproached my son for flying first class, but he told me
\ntimes have changed. If we fly economy and we meet bankers who
\ngive up loans, we'll lose our credibility.\" (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tycoon-eka-pledges-support-for-golkar-1447893297",
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