Azrul Azwar named chief of family planning body

Azrul Azwar named chief of family planning body

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Family Planning Association
(PKBI) concluded its tenth congress Saturday electing Azrul Azwar
as its new chairman for 1997-2000.

Azrul will replace Kartono Mohammad who has chaired the
organization for two periods. Azrul, who is also chairman of the
Indonesian Medical Association, was elected leader of the
organization following a great show of support from branches in
Sumatra and Sulawesi.

The organization, which has played an important role in
helping educate the public about population growth control, was
established in 1957.

The congress, opened Thursday by State Minister of Population
Haryono Suyono, also appointed prominent ulema Ali Yafie of the
Indonesian Council of Ulemas as a honorary member.

During the opening, Haryono, who is also chairman of the
National Family Planning Board, suggested that the nonprofit,
nongovernmental organization rebuild itself into a cooperative or
a business enterprise to better equip it to deal with population
issues amid increasingly stiff competition.

"We need an independent, progressive and reliable
organization," he said. If the association wishes to restructure
itself as a cooperative, its members will still be able to pick
programs that are in line with the goals of the organization's
founders.

The association may also establish business enterprises. As of
now, the organization has received financial assistance from many
institutions.

"By developing business enterprises or cooperatives, the
organization will be able to provide better reproductive health
services to the public, services which reach families," Haryono
said.

Kartono said Haryono's suggestion was realistic, given the
need for the association to be more independent. The current
status of the NGO is still considered relevant, he said.

"Maybe we'll establish units of business under PKBI, not
cooperatives or business companies as suggested," Kartono said.
(23/swe)