Soeharto asks youths to sponsor reforms
Soeharto asks youths to sponsor reforms
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto asked Indonesian youths
yesterday to sponsor reforms for the nation building program.
The President said the youths should realize that the nation
needs progressive reforms.
Speaking at the commemoration of the 66th anniversary of the
Youth Pledge, Soeharto also emphasized the importance of the
state ideology of Pancasila to the survival of the nation in
facing the strong rush of globalization.
The ceremony, which took place at the Senayan Sports Stadium,
was attended by 2,000 youths. Also attending the ceremony were
First Lady Tien Soeharto, Vice President and Mrs. Try Sutrisno,
cabinet ministers, Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirja, several
foreign ambassadors and a delegation of Malaysian youths.
The 1928 Youth Pledge was proclaimed by young leaders who led
various ethnic and religious groups but decided to unite into a
nationalistic federation. They declared that they belonged to one
nation and one country, Indonesia, and vowed to respect the
national language, Bahasa Indonesia.
Soeharto said: "Now, the globalization process has started to
penetrate all aspects of our nation's life."
"We do not need to curb the globalization flow although there
are negative impacts on our nation because it also has positive
aspects that can support us in making more progress," said the
President.
Soeharto warned the younger generation of their historical
duty to take part in national development.
"If the youths before Indonesian independence shouldered the
task to overthrow colonialism, we now have the duty to develop
our nation," President Soeharto said.
Awakening
Soeharto said that the youths should develop self-reliance,
professionalism, a spirit of entrepreneurship and creativity
during the second long-term development program, also called the
second national awakening.
"Self-reliance is important to the younger generation when
facing today's challenges; professionalism is needed to improve
their productivity; entrepreneurial skill should be developed to
create business opportunities; and creativity should be improved
to create things useful for all," he said.
During the ceremony, Soeharto also presented awards to a
number of youths for their meritorious deeds in pioneering
various development programs.
The programs launched last year aim at simultaneously
providing job opportunities for university graduates and speeding
up development in lesser developed villages.
Yesterday's ceremony also featured mass dancing, folk and pop
songs and hundreds of youths.
The cultural performance portrayed the youths in their
struggle national unity. (rms)