Tue, 24 Sep 2002

Sjahrir declares new party

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Noted economist Sjahrir declared on Monday the establishment of the New Indonesia Alliance Party (PIB), whose immediate aim is to contest the 2004 general election.

In his speech before 3,000 people attending the ceremony held at Hotel Indonesia, Sjahrir said the new party sought to revive the economic sector for a new Indonesia through reasonable politics, adding that it also aims to "create a healthy, clean and dynamic political environment".

The economist was elected the new party's chairman with Taufik Darusman as the secretary-general.

Among those attending the event was fellow economist Hadi Soesastro, who is the executive director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Sjahrir, a former student activist in the 1970s, expressed hope that the new party would be able to create new jobs, raise tax revenue, improve economic growth and eradicate poverty.

PIB is the latest party to be set up by public figures during the past few months.

The other three parties founded were the Pioneer Party by President Megawati Soekarnoputri's sister Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, the Bung Karno Nationalist Party by composer- turned-politician Eros Djarot and the Unity Democracy and Nationhood Party by political observer Ryaas Rasyid and Andi M. Mallarangeng.