'People hold the highest sovereignty'

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto reassured the country yesterday that the government is first and foremost the servant of the people.

"Indonesia is a democratic state and its government therefore does not run the country merely by giving orders to people," he said at a ceremony to present awards and trophies to state institutions selected for the best service and dedication to the public.

"It's the people who hold the highest sovereignty, and it's the People's Consultative Assembly which exercises that sovereignty," he said to the gathering at the State Palace which included Vice President Try Sutrisno and State Minister for Administrative Reforms T.B. Silalahi.

"The power of the government is not above people's sovereignty. Instead, it is below the people. The power of the government is not a goal, but a mandate, a means and a venue to exercise the will of the people," Soeharto said.

He said it was such a rationale that defined all the civil servants as "the servants of the public and the state".

He described how impossible it was for the President to conduct all his duties and meet his responsibilities in running the country on his own: "The President needs the support of the other state administrators from the lowest to the highest level."

"The authority to run the country that is mandated to the President is further delegated to all other state administrators," Soeharto said. "Therefore, every civil servant can be considered the holder of a mandate from the President of the Republic of Indonesia to serve the people."

Soeharto yesterday also stressed the importance of creating opportunities and conditions which cultivated creativity and initiative. "It's initiative and creativity which fosters the birth of innovation and facilitates efficiency in production," he said.

In other words, he said, the government's responsibility was to basically encourage and develop people's abilities in such a way that officials could not only manage themselves but also become responsible citizens.

He stressed the need to provide people with quality services, pointing out that demand for good service evolved in line with changes in society.

He also said that a good public service was one which met certain standards such as simple, clear procedures and safety. Quality service was also one which provided people with a sense of security and fostered people's productivity, he said.

At the event, President Soeharto presented Abdisatyabakti trophies to 27 state agencies from across the archipelago. He also presented letters of appreciation bearing the same title to 50 other state institutions in recognition of their dedication to the public.

This is the second time the awards have been given. They are seen as an incentive for all government agencies to compete with to provide the best service.

Last year, Soeharto presented 10 Abdisatyabakti awards and 24 certificates to government agencies for their dedication to the public.

The winners were selected by a team of public figures and representatives from the press and community organizations. (31)