Golkar: Hope from the sidelines

Golkar: Hope from the sidelines

From Gatra

Minister of Information Harmoko has been featured quite frequently on television in the past year. The coverage of his nation-wide visits portrays much cheer and excitement. His message is how much Indonesians have achieved in many fields.

These appearances are no doubt inseparable from Harmoko's intention of pushing Indonesians to engage in their respective roles in development.

We should remember all those who suffered from earthquakes, floods, eruptions, droughts and fires last year. We should also remember those who had to make way for development projects, regardless of whose interest the project was in.

I beg Minister Harmoko, who is also Golkar's chairman, and all Golkar staff and members to educate themselves and sanction or discipline themselves when needed. Pancasila courses are not enough.

Violations regarding land, forestry, banking, the justice system and many more have been caused by unruly Golkar members who happen to be state officials and civil servants. I don't blame thieves who deliberately act in their own interest.

What I regret is when the persons in charge of safeguarding the public interest profit from their posts.

Everyone knows that Golkar is aware of all this, of things that should not happen. If Golkar educated its members correctly, these violations would be less rampant.

If all Golkar members, civil servants and state officials from the lowest to the highest level in every institution, stick to their oath of office, this country's motto of "a just and prosperous society" would become something more than a mere slogan.

Educating Golkar members should be Golkar Chairman Harmoko's focus -- for the public's interest.

K.W. Susilo

Jl. Kenari L5/36

Bintaro Jaya II

Jakarta 12330