PPP predicts Indonesia is stable this year
PPP predicts Indonesia is stable this year
JAKARTA (JP): The Moslem-oriented United Development Party (PPP) predicts that Indonesian politics will be "stable and calm" this year, in contrast to the rather turbulent 1994.
Speaking to reporters at the party's headquarters here yesterday, PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum said he was convinced that 1995 would be a year of political stability for all political groups in the country, including PPP.
"Unlike the predictions of political forecasters who say this will be a year of political turmoil, we believe that everything will be more stable," he said.
PPP has observed that government officials now seem to be more united in their vision and actions, Ismail said.
He added that if there is any political tension this year, it will most likely not be enough to pose a threat to national stability.
Commenting on Golkar, the ruling political organization, Ismail said that there currently did not seem to be any sign of internal conflict, although minor rifts could occur. "Which is quite normal in any organization," he added.
He also predicted that the Armed Forces (ABRI) would be "calmer" and "more stable" this year. If any shuffling takes place in terms of personnel, he said, it will be part of their routine tour of duty.
It seemed that PPP itself, he said, would have good relations with ABRI and also become more stable this year.
Ismail suggested that the party's Third National Congress last August, which re-elected him as chairman, served as a solid foundation to carry on the activities for this year.
"The congress ran democratically and all participants played strictly by the rules. We hope this success will be repeated at the regional party congresses to start this month," he said.
PPP members, who are celebrating the party's 22nd anniversary today, will be holding their provincial and regional branch meetings all year.
The first branch to hold the meeting will be Central Java -- the "calm" chapter according to Ismail -- starting next Tuesday.
The meetings, among others, are being held to elect subdistrict commissioners of the party.
On economics, PPP member Bachtiar Hamzah said the party would fully support the government's plan to cut down foreign loans and accelerate the payment of foreign debts.
"We also support the listing of state firms on the international stock market," he said, citing that sales of 20 percent to 25 percent of a company's stocks could help to bring an additional US$20 to 30 billion into the country.
To commemorate its anniversary this year, PPP will inaugurate several mosques and centers of Koranic studies.(pwn)