Never let differences divide, Wahono says
Never let differences divide, Wahono says
JAKARTA (JP): House Speaker Wahono reminded the nation
yesterday that differences are acceptable and should not be
allowed to cause enmity and division between people.
"In the increasingly dynamic arena of public life, we can't
entirely eliminate the potential for friction, conflict or
discord.
"Differences in opinion are legitimate in our state's life,
but don't let us allow those differences to plunge us into enmity
and strife," Wahono said in his address during the inauguration
of the new House of Representatives administrative building
yesterday.
He stressed that what was needed, instead, was mechanism and
agreement about the manner in which differences should be
resolved. Differences should be resolved in peaceful, ethical,
just, wise and mature ways, he was quoted by Antara as saying.
"The stance implies that all constitutional institutions
should meet their respective duties. Otherwise, Indonesia will
plunge into disasters caused by the tyranny of the minority or
the domination of the majority," he said.
Present at the ceremony were former House Speaker Kharis
Suhud, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, Coordinating Minister
for Economy and Finance Saleh Afiff, Minister of Public Works
Radinal Moochtar, State Minister of National Development Planning
Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad.
The new 24-story building is on a 56,502-square-meter plot at
Senayan, and each House member has a 24-square-meter room. It was
built by PT Citra Adhi Joint Operation, a joint venture between
PT Citra Lamtorogung Persada, owned by President Soeharto's
eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, and state-owned
construction firm PT Adhi Karya.
According to House Secretary-General Afif Ma'roef the project,
which began in 1993, cost Rp 116.07 billion (US$48.4 million).
"The new building is not meant to place the House members in
an ivory tower separated from the people they represent," Wahono
said. "It has been built to help the legislators concentrate and
be more productive in channeling public aspirations." (swe)