Golkar faces huge challenges

Golkar faces huge challenges

State Minister/Secretary Akbar Tandjung emerged as the new
leader of Golkar in its congress over the weekend. Analysts and
congress participants agreed that the process of the election was
democratic.

We would like to underline this fact because in next year's
general election, democratic values will be a prerequisite for
any political party to win the people's votes.

In its attempt to transform itself into a more independent
party -- away from its traditional support from the Armed Forces
and the bureaucracy -- Golkar has expanded its central board
members to 138, encompassing a total of 16 departments.

Golkar will obviously face huge challenges ahead, especially
in the way it consolidates itself in the new political setting.
It will also outline its list of priorities in both short-term
and long-term programs.

We would like to emphasize the urgency for Golkar to implement
a short-term goal, which is to alleviate the sufferings of the
common people in the wake of the economic downturn. Some
economists have said that our economic level has been downgraded
to the level of the 1960s chaotic period.

Failure in this field would obviously result in a higher crime
rate.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta