PSI uses success stories to woo voters

PSI uses success stories to woo voters

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Unity Party (PSI) will present a number of
successful projects rather than promises in its campaign to win
voters' hearts in the upcoming elections, a party leader says.

PSI chairman Rahardjo Katjaningrat said on Friday that among
its successful projects were the development of social security
and funding access for thousands of farmers in the West Java
towns of Bekasi and Karawang, as well as building accountability
and implementing an antidiscrimination policy in the party.

He further said that some 4,000 farmers in Bekasi and Karawang
had been registered as policy holders of PT Jamsostek and got
funding from several banks, thanks to the hard work of PSI
leaders.

PSI has also introduced modern accounting methods in managing
the party's funds to help avoid any misuse, he added.

"We have to present evidence to people of what we can do for
them. We are not going to sell political promises to gain seats
in the House, we hate promises," he said during a discussion at
The Jakarta Post on Friday.

He was accompanied by several party leaders including deputy
chairmen Noor Syamsuddin Chotib, Mardinsyah, and Ferry J.
Juliantono.

The country will hold the legislative elections on April 5,
which will be participated in by 24 parties.

According to Rahardjo, those successful projects will
demonstrate the party's seriousness in implementing programs on a
larger scale once it assumes power.

PSI once belonged to an early 20th-century party with
nationalist and Islamic characteristics. It was founded upon a
leading merchants' association, the Muslim Unity (SI), or Serikat
Islam.

But today's PSI brings together parties and organizations
representing different religions, workers and businesspeople. Its
leaders describe the party as nationalist, religious and
populist.

PSI was established on Dec. 17, 2002 from a coalition of eight
parties -- The Indonesian Islamic Association Party (PSII), the
Unity Party (PP), the Indonesian Independence Vanguard Party
(IPKI), the People's Sovereignty Party (PDR), the Marhaenist
Front Indonesian National Party (PNI-FM), the Indonesian National
Party-Marhaen (PNI MM), the Catholic Democratic Party (PKD), and
the Indonesian Unity in Diversity Party (PBI).

Rahardjo said his party had set a target of achieving a
maximum of 5 percent of seats in the House from 28 of 69
electoral districts.

His party's strongholds are East Java, Central Java, Banten,
West Java, Lampung, Riau, South Sumatra, North Sumatra, South
Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, West and East Nusa Tenggara, Central
and West Kalimantan, and Papua.

"We are not a rich party, so will not spend a lot of money to
advertise in the mass media or to conduct rallies during the
campaign period between March 11 and April 1," he said.

He added that his party's initial campaign funds only stood at
Rp 400 million, which had been submitted to the General Elections
Commission (KPU).

Ferry asserted that PSI was not driven by ideology, but was a
program-oriented party.

"With a number of parties forming PSI, we realize we do not
share the same ideology. So we will focus on party programs," he
said.

He also said his party would promote agrarian reform in the
country to help create a just society.