Competition is normal in politics: Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): Competition in politics is normal so long as ethics and rules are observed, President Soeharto said yesterday.

"It is normal for every organization contesting the general election to want to grab as many seats as possible," Soeharto said, speaking in his capacity as patron chief of the ruling political group Golkar.

"Competition exists even in politics," he said at a reception to mark Golkar's 32nd anniversary at the Jakarta Convention Center.

"But competition should be based on political ethics and the rules that we have all agreed," he said in a speech broadcast nationwide by all six television stations in the country.

About 9,000 Golkar members, dressed in yellow, packed the Jakarta Convention Center.

Among the guests were chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) Ismail Hasan Metareum, chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Soerjadi, and thousands of first-time voters.

Also on hand were chiefs of ruling parties of several friendly countries, including the UMNO of Malaysia, the PAP of Singapore, the CPC of the People's Republic of China, the CPV of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Lakas NUCD of the Philippines, the Workers Party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the New Korea Party of the Republic of Korea.

Golkar leaders are determined that the organization should win at least 70.02 percent of the total votes in the general election, scheduled for May next year.

Chairman Harmoko said in his speech at the reception that the targeted percentage was based on an objective calculation of people's support for Golkar.

The leaders insisted that Golkar should retain a controlling majority in the 500-seat House of Representatives.

Golkar has won all five elections held under President Soeharto. In 1992, it took 68 percent of the votes, a big margin but a drop from the 73 percent it won in 1987.

Golkar is contesting the election with the United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party. Only 425 seats are up for grabs as the other 75 are reserved for the Armed Forces, whose members do not vote.

Acceptable behavior

Soeharto said that in facing the election next year, Golkar "should know what is acceptable behavior, and what is not, what is appropriate and what is not."

"The general election should always create a sense of unity and cohesion.

"We hope that the general election will not create wounds among any group in society."

Soeharto emphasized the five election victories that Golkar has managed to notch up since 1971.

"Golongan Karya has been entrusted by the people with the biggest share of seats in the various representative bodies.

"This means that the people accept the policies, the strategy and the programs that Golkar offer them to improve their physical and spiritual wellbeing," he said.

Soeharto said the comfortable majority that Golkar has enjoyed in the House of Representatives, the People's Consultative Assembly and the regional legislative councils means it "has a mandate from the people to look after their aspirations and interests.

"This mandate doesn't come by itself. The mandate is a blessing and an acknowledgement, something that came about from its tireless work and dedication, whose fruits have already been enjoyed by the people," he said.

Soeharto reminded the audience that Golkar was founded 32 years ago to carry out a "total correction to the political situation that was filled with conflict and upheavals."

Since then, Golkar has had the honor of receiving the support from a majority of voters, he said.

Stability is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve the nation's goals and objectives as stated in the Pancasila ideology and the 1945 Constitution, he added.

Soeharto assigned a new role to Golkar. "We should develop Golkar into a force for renewal and for modernization in this country," he said.

Soeharto in his speech did not refer to Golkar's decision to set criteria for its candidate in the 1998 presidential election.

In its political statement read by Golkar member Rien Herdiani Alfian, Golkar also set criteria for the future president. The criteria include strong vision about how to maintain the unity of this very diverse nation, acceptability to all groups in society, and leadership qualities recognized both at home and in abroad.

"Most important of all is that the candidate must be an experienced person with a proven record of success in implementing the ideals of the New Order government," the statement said.

The political statement, however, did not mention age as a criterium.

While stressing that Golkar will not announce its presidential candidate until election time in March 1998, Harmoko on Friday said that the incumbent President Soeharto "to date, is still the nation's best son."

Soeharto, 75 years old and widowed in April, has not publicly announced his intention after the end of his current term in office. Each time the question was asked of him, he simply states that the matter should be decided "by the people". (imn/emb)