Minister's promise is mere 'theory'

CILACAP, Central Java: Minister of Cooperatives Soebiyakto Tjakrawerdaya returned to his home village Wednesday to canvass for Golkar.

Soebiyakto told thousands of people in a field in Kroya that Golkar had never made and would never make empty promises.

Nearly all Golkar's programs to reduce poverty and create more jobs had been implemented, he claimed.

When he yelled, "Golkar is determined to eradicate poverty by the year 2005," a youth in Golkar attire shouted within earshot: "Uch, that's a theory!"

The minister seemed to ignore the comment but most of the crowd stared at the youth who voiced his cynicism from beneath a coconut tree. (wah/pan)