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