Elections, a test case for reform

Elections, a test case for reform

JAKARTA: Vice President Hamzah Haz stressed on Monday that
next year's general elections were a test case for the reform
movement, and should not be allowed to fail.

"We should make the general elections a success," he said in
his address at the opening of this year's coordination meeting
for national development at the Bidakara building.

Hamzah underscored the fundamental nature of next year's
general elections, in which the people would directly elect
members of legislative bodies, as well as their president and
vice president.

"As such, the general elections will be a test case for all of
us (Indonesians). Should it fail to improve the people's lot, it
would amount to a failure to fulfill the objectives of reform,"
he said.

The vice president also noted that the general elections would
spend a staggering amount of the people's money.

"So, a failure in the general elections would also result in a
staggering disappointment among the people," he said. -- Antara