Golkar campaign focuses on Busang, corruption issues

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)