Golkar cadres told to improve conduct

Golkar cadres told to improve conduct

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has urged city
councilors from the ruling Golkar faction to improve their
knowledge of city issues and maintain a close relationship with
those in the low-income bracket.

"Councilors should not speak out just for the sake of it.
Think carefully about what you're going to say, because if you
talk inaccurately, it will come back to haunt you later," Surjadi
said Tuesday.

He cited the example of a councilor who did not have enough
information about a certain problem but regularly commented on
it, adding that kind of habit was dangerous and could mislead
people.

The outgoing governor was speaking at the Golkar city cadres'
meeting at the Hotel Horizon, North Jakarta. Almost all the
Golkar city councilors and officials attended.

Surjadi said the Golkar cadres had to have broader views in
coping with the city's problems and people's aspirations.

"People now have greater social and political awareness. Don't
underestimate them. They demand us, as cadres, to act and behave
properly. People will look up to us so don't disappoint their
expectations," he said.

Surjadi underlined the importance of maintaining a close
relationship with "little" people. "You can learn much from them.
Their aspirations cannot be ignored. Remember, development is
meant for the people, not just for the interests of some groups."

Human resources

The governor stressed the importance of maintaining high
quality and well-disciplined human resources.

Surjadi also criticized Golkar councilors who turned up to
events late, delayed completing work and seemed uncommitted to
undertaking their duties properly.

"These bad habits should be stopped. Don't attend a meeting
only if the chief comes. Be more active and mingle more with the
people. If you don't want to learn something, how can you be a
good cadre?" Surjadi said.

He said that if the Golkar cadres only thought of their own
interests, they were no longer worthy to be the people's
representatives.

"That is why the cadres, both city officials and councilors,
must try to improve their standards. Don't just go with the flow.
Think of what is the best for the people."

He also reiterated his support for the National Discipline
Movement, launched by President Soeharto in May, 1995.

"I understand the difficulties in publicizing the movement.
It's hard, because we have to force ourselves to follow the
rules. And I know, we often face lucrative offers that might
tempt us to break the rules. This habit must also be stopped," he
said.

The way to stop the bad habits, Surjadi said, was to cut out
bureaucratic red tape, create open communications between all
parties, maximize the cadres' role as policy maker and maintain a
balance between the executive (officials) and the legislature
(the councilors). (07)