Public warned not to be complacent

Public warned not to be complacent

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto told followers of all religions not to be complacent just because they have overcome so many difficulties.

Speaking at the commemoration of Prophet Muhammad's ascension at the Istiqlal Mosque on Tuesday evening, the President said no one should feel complacent when faced with success.

The prophet's ascension is his night journey through the sky from Mecca to Jerusalem from where he later proceeded to heaven, ascending to the divine presence.

Soeharto said God Almighty tested Indonesians with both successes and failures.

"Expressing gratitude to God is important in the effort to deliver ourselves from the temptation to savor the fruits of development as soon as possible," he told thousands of Moslems who crammed the main hall of the Southeast Asia's biggest mosque.

Meanwhile Dr. Amin Rais, chairman of the Muhammadiyah organization, said at the ceremony that the essence of the nocturnal journey is the order the prophet received from God for Moslems to pray five times a day.

"Daily prayer does not only function to protect Moslems from doing evil things but also boosts the sense of discipline of the believers," said Amin, who is also the lecturer of the post- graduate studies at Gadjah Mada State University in Yogyakarta.

Amin said a people who are highly discipline usually respect the value of time, have a work ethic and are mentally strong when facing challenges.

"On the other hand," he said, "the absence of discipline will make the people irresponsible to God or their own community," he warned. (tis)