Golkar optimistic about next year

JAKARTA (JP): The dominant political organization Golkar said yesterday that given this year's successes, it is optimistic about the development of Indonesia in 1995.

In its end-of-the-year statement, Golkar however underlined the need for the nation to pay closer attention to at least three areas where there are still "shortcomings".

In the areas of unemployment, social services and land ownership, the nation will need to work harder to overcome such problems, it said.

1994 saw progress on several fronts, according to the statement read by Golkar chairman Harmoko at the group's headquarters, which "goes to show that the process of development in Indonesia is going in the right direction."

Harmoko said that no less important for Indonesia in 1995 is the need to strengthen the work ethics of the people, with an emphasis on sincerity, strong mentality and responsibility.

Golkar and all its members will be fighting to strengthen the nation's work ethic, he said.

The role of the government in the development process is always crucial, especially in providing public services. "This means that the government apparatus must be clean, healthy, respected and its people must possess high integrity and morality."

Golkar is also appealing to the nation to join in its endeavor in resolving the various manpower problems, including employment, skill level and worker welfare and protection.

The group also gave its support to the government's initiative to take the lead in pushing for free trade within the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, underlining that Indonesia must be able to tap the advantages of trade liberalization for its own national interests.

It specifically referred to the Bogor Declaration by APEC leaders at a meeting hosted by President Soeharto in the West Java city last month. The leaders endorsed Soeharto's proposal to turn the region into a free trade area by the year 2020.

Golkar appealed to both the government and the business community to prepare the nation for the free trade era as best as possible. (emb)