Sarwono takes Golkar message to north coast
Sarwono takes Golkar message to north coast
JAKARTA (JP): Senior Golkar official Sarwono Kusumaatmadja
went on the campaign trail in North Jakarta Wednesday, trumpeting
the message that everyone in the area stood to gain from the
government-sponsored Jakarta Waterfront Development Program.
Sarwono, who is State Minister of Environment, told an
enthusiastic audience of around 2,000 people that the project was
"a vast and very well-planned development" that would open
opportunities in education, tourism and other fields.
The project involves the reclamation and development of 2,700
hectares along 32 kilometers of Jakarta Bay and improvements to
2,500 hectares of existing land in North Jakarta.
With the flair of a talk show host, Sarwono first introduced
an official from the Regional Planning Board office to explain
the project, also known as the Pantura reclamation project.
He then told the audience how the project would be a bonanza
for the people of North Jakarta and that they should strive to
reap the benefits.
"For instance, it will open business opportunities in the
tourism industry, where people can benefit by opening homestays
for tourists.
"This project will not only benefit big hotel chains. You can
all take the opportunity to benefit from it. Do it by working
together," he said, watched by North Jakarta mayor R. Suprawito.
Sarwono then introduced an ice vendor whose three children
have managed to pursue their education to university level. This
showed, he told the audience, that they also could "make things
happen".
Eko, a 48-year-old resident of the Jl. Lodan neighborhood in
North Jakarta, stepped toward Sarwono, shook his hand, and then
shouted to the audience "Long live Golkar!"
The audience, mostly clad in yellow T-shirts and sporting red-
and-white (the color of Indonesia's national flag) bandannas
around their shoulders, went into raptures at the exclamation.
Sarwono's next "guests" were local Golkar officials. He made
them pledge publicly their commitment to help people reap the
project's benefits.
"Show the people Golkar's real programs, show them the people
who they can cooperate with, show them that Golkar's work is
real," Sarwono said. The Golkar officials pledged their
commitment instantaneously.
The rally, which lasted about two hours, ended with all
singing the patriotic song "Gebyar" and Sarwono calling on Golkar
supporters to ask everyone to cooperate in developing the
country.
"Don't be racist, don't politicize religion, find yourself
honest people to work with and those who want to work hard.
"Election campaigns should be used by everyone to strengthen
our national unity, instead of disintegrating it," he said in a
fiery tone.
Sarwono called on all Golkar supporters at the rally to put
down the Golkar flag and take up the national flag when
campaigning resumes today.
The audience dispersed peacefully. No street processions were
noticeable and only a few security forces were deployed in the
vicinity of the rally venue. (aan)