Golkar campaign focuses on Busang, corruption issues

JAKARTA (JP): Corruption issues and other scandals were a focal point at Golkar campaign rallies yesterday in Sulawesi and Kalimantan.

In Manado, Golkar functionary Ginandjar Kartasasmita commented on the Busang gold hoax and the controversial Timor national car project.

Ginandjar, who is the Minister of National Planning, said police should promptly investigate whether any public officials were involved in the fraud which was uncovered recently. He said a hasty conclusion was needed on the matter.

As a former minister of mines and energy, Ginandjar said the scandal would not be detrimental to the Indonesian mining industry.

It will not greatly effect investment in that sector, he confidently told the rally as reported by Antara.

"Who can really know the exact contents embedded in the earth?" he asked, adding that his statement should not be interpreted as an excuse for the debacle or defense for his colleagues in government.

Ginandjar asked Golkar supporters not to be discouraged by the internationally maligned Timor car project.

He called on them not to be swayed by propaganda from those parties who were adverse to the project. Ginandjar defended the project, saying it would economize costs.

"We have to look at the substance of the issue that the mobnas (national car) is being pursued for the sake of efficiency," he said.

In response to a young women's concern over corruption, Ginandjar said it was a bureaucratic disease plaguing the government.

He underlined the need to develop an effective monitoring system to prevent such misdeeds and the importance of a transparent bureaucracy.

While saying that he was not defending Indonesia's record, Ginandjar said that corruption occurred in almost every country in the world including those which are more developed.

He said an important remedy against corruption was improving civil servants' welfare. That way, he said, civil servants wouldn't think about stealing state money.

Meanwhile, on the campaign trail in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro, told a rally that all levels of society must join in the fight against corruption.

He said Golkar would like the people to help fight corruption and all forms of collusion.

Apart from corruption, Wardiman reiterated Golkar's plan to eliminate poverty.

Poverty was also the theme in Parepare, South Sulawesi, as Beddu Amang, currently Chairman of the Logistics Board, professed Golkar's intent to improving people's welfare.

But the highlight of the rally was a performance by beautiful female famous vocalists singing songs eulogizing the dominant party.

In Singkawang, West Kalimantan, Golkar functionary Djamaloeddin Soeryohadikoesoemo, called for calm and unity among the people in the province which was recently rocked by racial violence.

In Jakarta, Golkar Secretary-General Achmad Moestahid Astari said his party was not perturbed against recent "political moves".

"Golkar isn't edgy about this, we've consolidated quite well... In fact we've told the other parties to beware of infiltration to undermine them and create havoc," Achmad said yesterday without saying who the adverse elements were.

During yesterday's televised campaign dialog, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, President Soeharto's daughter, asserted Golkar's concern toward women's issues. "Women are an important and integral part of development," she said wearing yellow attire.

She said women bore more responsibilities than just a housemaker and bearer of children. (mds)