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.