More support for Soeharto

UJUNGPANDANG: Fifteen organizations affiliated with the dominant Golkar pledged Saturday to seek re-election of President Soeharto.

They also pledged to help Golkar win the May 29 general election and maintain its domination in the House of Representatives.

They made the resolution before South Sulawesi governor Z.B. Palaguna, who chairs the local Golkar board of patrons.

"We urge the People's Consultative Assembly to re-elect Haji Muhammad Soeharto in 1998," they said in the petition, a copy of which was submitted to the governor.

Last month, South Sulawesi migrants in Jakarta echoed similar sentiments. Among the prominent figures were State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, chief of the state logistic agency Beddu Amang and business tycoon Tanri Abeng.

Governor Palaguna has openly thrown his support behind Soeharto's re-election, and said the pledge showed that South Sulawesi people are resolute in keeping Soeharto at the helm. (30/pan)