Embrace successes, ulemas told

Embrace successes, ulemas told

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesians should make the best use of the country's accomplishments and not destroy them out of dissatisfaction, President Soeharto said yesterday.

Addressing some 80 Moslem leaders visiting from Kalimantan, Soeharto said that pushing the development pace will not guarantee success. "We want (development to proceed) fast, but it's not a guarantee of success," he said.

"For instance, we might want to accelerate industrial development with great domestic and foreign investment," he said. "But this only overheats our economy. And if we force it, just like a vehicle, it'll break down."

Accompanied by chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) K.H. Hasan Basri, the ulemas said a special prayer for the health of President Soeharto and other national leaders.

After the visit, the ulemas and Soeharto said their Friday prayer at the Baitu-Rahiem Mosque inside the Presidential Palace compound.

"We cannot achieve everything all at the same time," Soeharto said. "However, we realize that all that has been accomplished is because of the participation of the people in general, Moslems and the ulemas in particular."

Later on the day, the ulemas also met with Vice President Try Sutrisno, who said that Indonesian Moslems should continuously strive to improve all aspects of their lives.

"With quality Moslems we can build a quality nation," he was reported by Antara as saying. (swe)