Golkar distributes staple foods

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Thousands of Golkar supporters rallied on city streets on Monday, while party leaders addressed a gathering and other activists distributed cheap foods in 21 districts.

The distribution was organized by members of AMPI, a Golkar youth wing. Each district received 200 packages, which consisted of 5 kilograms of rice, 2 kilos of sugar and 1 kilo of cooking oil each.

Syahdansyah Putra, chairman of the Medan chapter of Golkar, denied the program was a vote-buying scheme. "I have long said that there will be no day without Golkar paying attention to the needy," he said.

"We can't be accused of committing 'money politics' because we are distributing the packages to our own cadres," he said.

Syahdansyah expressed confidence his party would win 55 percent of the votes in Medan. However, if it lost, Golkar would be ready to become a coalition partner of the winner in the state administration. (39/40)