President Soeharto's acceptance speech to the MPR

The following is the full text of President Soeharto's acceptance speech after he was inaugurated for a seventh five- year term yesterday on the final day of the General Session of People's Consultative Assembly.

JAKARTA: Honourable Chairman, Vice Chairmen and members of the People's Consultative Assembly, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen;

These last 11 days were extremely important for our nation's future journey, evolution and growth.

The Indonesian people have determined their stance and affirmed the path they want to follow together in entering the new era, the 21st century era.

The era we are about to enter is filled with changes, filled with challenges, filled with hopes; whether in our own society, in the region and in the world.

At home, we have succeeded in mobilising forces and gaining experiences in the political, economic, social, cultural and defence-security fields, that we have developed with great difficulty up to now.

All of this represents our asset to face new challenges before us. Also, to meet the emerging new hopes.

Development is a human endeavour. We are aware that humans are not perfect. As a human endeavour, the development we have been carrying out to date also has its weaknesses and shortcomings. Most importantly, the firm determination of all of us to continue the enhancement of what is already satisfactory.

Equally important is our awareness to continue to make good what is still unsatisfactory, to complete what is still incomplete and to get right what is not yet right.

The essence of development is a change towards progress. In the regional and international arena, we are also going through an era filled with changes.

These changes seem to take place faster and faster over time. In fact, some of them are quite often faster than we thought, while others are even beyond our imagination.

New powers are emerging in the international scene, especially in the economic area. Nations are all developing themselves with a view to attaining progress and prosperity.

All countries continue to put themselves in order internally, so they will stand upright in an increasingly unified world economy.

In the face of such trends, the basic stance of our free and independent foreign policy is clear. On the one hand, we encourage changes that lead to peace, prosperity and progress of all nations.

On the other hand, we prevent events that may lead to an unjust and insecure world.

This is the dynamism of the future.

This dynamism was reminded by our predecessors.

The Elucidation of the Constitution says that we must live a dynamic life and watch any developments in the life of the Indonesian society and state.

It is also reminded that the Indonesian society and state develop and time changes.

This is the reason why the Assembly, as holder of the people's sovereignty -- on account of the dynamism of the society -- must watch what is going on every five years and determine the guidelines to be followed in the future.

Thus, I fully understand everything which was decided by the Assembly during the current sessions, especially in the implementation of the next 1998 State Policy Guidelines.

These are matters that occupy my mind and heart when I took the Presidential oath of office a few moments ago.

I have solemnly taken the oath. It was witnessed by the Honourable Assembly, by all the guests and audience present here. I have implanted the oath at the innermost part of my heart. I shall materialise the oath with concrete deeds. I shall wholeheartedly and impartially perform the duties of the President of the Republic of Indonesia to the best of my ability, by subscribing faithfully to the Constitution and following as strictly as possible all the laws and its related regulations and dedicating myself to nation and country.

I have taken the oath in accordance with my religion, Islam. The oath starts with the words : "In the name of Allah, I hereby swear..."

As a Moslem, I am well aware of the true meaning of these words. At judgment day later on, I have to account my responsibility over all my deeds in leading this nation before The Most Knowing and The Almighty God.

The whole of the Indonesian people heard my oath. In five-year time from now, God willing, I shall stand on this rostrum to present the accountability of my leadership before the Indonesian people's representatives.

Fellow Countrymen;

Today, we are going through extremely difficult test and trials. We are being subjected to very hard economic and financial turmoils.

We will never enjoy again an economic growth such as we have experienced for more than the past a quarter of a century. On the contrary, although on a national level our family planning programme has been successful, and yet the number of our population will continue to rise.

All of this means that in the next few years we must maintain a greater sense of concern in our life.

As a nation, we must tighten our belts. As an individual, as a group, some of us may lead an affluent life. But, as a nation, we can no longer afford to lead an extravagant life.

During the present hardship, we need precisely a stronger solidarity, a sense of sharing the same fate and destiny.

Let us carry the heavy burdens together on our shoulders.

Let us carry the easy loads together in our hands. As a President, I stand ready to bear this very heavy burden, because the Assembly, as the embodiment of the Indonesian people, gives me the trust to lead this nation.

I seek the help and support of the whole of the Indonesian people, of all groups, of all segments, of all sectors of the nation, men and women, as well as all generations of our nation. We shall succeed in completing these heavy tasks through the hard work of all farmers, workers, employees, small and big businesses, artists and literati, intellectuals and academicians, prominent religious leaders and the clergy of all religions, political and social organisations, the press and mass media, the rank and file of civil servants and Armed Forces members.

Through hard work and greater sense of concern, unified stance and mutual help, we are convinced that we will be able to overcome safely these difficult times.

Subsequently, we shall continue with development towards the creation of an advanced and thriving, a just and prosperous society founded on Pancasila.

We must put many things in order aimed at freeing ourselves from the difficulties we are in.

We must make all our national economic potentials more efficient. In the coming years, we ought to continue to renew and reawaken the people's initiative and creativity, as an asset for building the future.

I need the support, correction and supervision of the House of the People's Representatives, whose Members are concurrently Members of the Assembly.

I have fully and broad-mindedly listened to all the subtle and veiled or strong and blunt criticisms during the Assembly's sessions.

These criticisms constitute valuable inputs for the improvement of my government in the coming days.

The support will give me a greater confidence that the policies and actions I adopt are in line with the people's innermost hearts.

The correction will motivate me to review my policies and actions. The supervision will spare me from mistakes. I attach the same importance to the support, correction and supervision.

I regard the support, correction and supervision as elements that always reinvigorate a democratic life.

I definitely need the cooperation of other high state institutions, in accordance with their respective authorities and duties as prescribed by the Constitution.

The cooperation shall enrich our experience to uphold a constitutional life.

To the whole of the Indonesian people and the Assembly, permit me to express my highest appreciation for the trust placed in me to lead this nation once again.

I ask for your prayers and good wishes.

May I not disappoint the hopes of the Indonesian people.

By constantly praying for the wise guidance and spiritual as well as physical fortitude from Allah the Great, starting from now on, I stand ready to carry out the task of the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

May Almighty God bestow His divine blessings on all of us. Thank you.