Golkar optimistic about next year
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)