PDI and PPP support Surjadi's 2nd term

JAKARTA (JP): The city chapters of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the United Development Party (PPP) said they would support Governor Surjadi Soedirdja if he was nominated for a second term.

PPP's chairman, Rusdi Hamka, said yesterday Surjadi was a just man.

"Even though there were land appropriations, he was committed to building more low-cost apartments instead of just luxurious housing complexes," Rusdi said.

Besides, Surjadi was not an arrogant leader and did not copy the provincial authorities who abused their authority in the lead up to the election campaign, he said.

Another PPP local leader had said the party would have been angry if Surjadi started a "yellow" campaign like the Central Java authorities.

Yellow is the color of the ruling Golkar party.

"Surjadi is fair to all of us (the three political parties), he treats us equally," Rusdi said.

Under a 1974 government regulation a Governor may serve a second term.

PDI chairman, Lukman F. Mokoginta, said Surjadi's governorship had succeeded in increasing revenue.

He declined to comment on rumors that former city military commander May.Gen. Hendropriyono was a possible candidate for the next term.

Surjadi, who was officially inaugurated as Jakarta Governor on Oct. 6, 1992, ends his five-year term on Oct. 6. (ste)