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)