Golkar seeks more support
JAKARTA: The campaign team of Golkar Party presidential candidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto will seek more support from mass- based organizations to help gather support for his bid in the July 5 election.
Irsyad Sudiro, a Golkar leader and member of the team, said on Friday the party would host a national meeting for the organizations here on May 28.
Golkar won 21 percent of the vote in the April 5 legislative election and expects between 5 percent and 7 percent more in the presidential election.
Wiranto's running mate Solahuddin Wahid is expected to woo support from members of the 40 million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) organization. - JP
;JP;MTR;TSO; ANPAa..r.. Scene-Lemhanas Lemhanas to stay neutral in election JP/4/scene
Lemhanas to stay neutral in election
JAKARTA: The National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) pledged on Friday to remain neutral in the presidential election.
Lemhanas governor Ermaya Suriadinata said during a ceremony in observance of the institute's 39th anniversary that despite its neutrality, it would be delighted if one of its graduates was elected the next president.
Golkar Party's presidential aspirant Wiranto, Democratic Party's presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Agum Gumelar, the running mate of United Development Party's presidential candidate Hamzah Haz, are Lemhanas graduates, while Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's presidential nominee Megawati Soekarnoputri is an honorary member of the institute. -- JP
;JP;IWA;NAOMMY; ANPAa..r.. Scene-Korea-biotechnology RI, North Korea ink scientific deal JP/4/SCENE
RI, North Korea ink scientific deal
JAKARTA: The Indonesian Ministry of Research and Technology and the North Korea Sciences Academy agreed on Friday to cooperate in biotechnology research and exchange of scientists.
Secretary of the minister of research and technology Ashwin Sasongko said the joint research would focus on biomass utilization for future energy and animal vaccination.
"We will also discuss the use of nuclear energy but there is no specific cooperation in that field," Ashwin said after a meeting with the North Korean delegation at his office. - JP
;JP;JUN; ANPAa..r.. Scene-council-autonomy Councillors want autonomy to stay JP/4/ACEH
Councillors want autonomy to stay
JAKARTA: The Association of Indonesian Municipal Legislatures (Asdeki) urged on Friday the government and the House of Representatives to maintain the genuine spirit of regional autonomy when amending Law No. 22/1999 on regional administration.
"We do not oppose the review but urge the government and the House to keep regional autonomy intact," Asdeki's deputy chairman Rudi Mastura told a press conference.
Rudi, who is also the speaker of Palu Legislative Council in Central Sulawesi, said the association also demanded that the government and the House allow the association to participate in the review of the law. --JP
;JP;Naomy; ANPAa..r.. Scene-techno-seminar Public awareness of technology low JP/4/BPPT
Public awareness of technology low
JAKARTA: The Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) will hold a three-day seminar aimed at raising public awareness of technology next week.
During the seminar, which starts on Tuesday, experts and government officials will talk about a synergy between technology and industry in a bid to improve productivity and product competitiveness. An exhibition will cap the event.
BPPT will also organize a computer assembling competition for senior high school and university students at the end of June, with participants to be restricted to Greater Jakarta. -- JP