Govt impartial on Muhammadiyah chief

Govt impartial on Muhammadiyah chief

JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and
Security Soesilo Soedarman said yesterday that the government has
no preference as to who should lead Muhammadiyah, the huge Moslem
organization currently holding its congress.

"The government is not supporting anyone in particular, nor do
I. It's all up to the congress," Soesilo said after chairing a
mini-cabinet meeting to review the political security situation
in the country, Antara reported.

He acknowledged that his office will closely monitor the
congress in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh, and that he will
also attend the opening ceremony tomorrow. "But I'm not going
there to support any candidate. I'm not even a member of
Muhammadiyah."

President Soeharto is scheduled to open the congress proper in
Banda Aceh today. The leadership contest has been one of the most
heated subjects discussed since last Sunday, when the
preliminaries to the congress were opened.

There have been rumors that the government is quietly backing
one candidate, although this has not been apparent in the
proceedings in Banda Aceh.

The cabinet meeting yesterday was attended by, among others,
Justice Minister Oetojo Oesman, Minister of Information Harmoko,
Minister of Home Affairs Yogie S.M., Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ali Alatas, Attorney General Singgih and Chief of the State
Intelligence Agency M. Sudibyo.

The meeting also reviewed progress on the National Discipline
Campaign launched by President Soeharto in May.

Soesilo said the government has opened PO Box 9009 Jakarta
10090 for suggestions and criticisms from members of the public
regarding the campaign.

The campaign focuses on basic habits like queuing, turning up
for work on time and littering.

He said his office will be sending out teams to various cities
this month to check on the campaign and to make an evaluation.
(emb)