Soeharto drops by House crash course

BOGOR, West Java (JP): President Soeharto dropped by the Bogor Presidential Palace yesterday to have a look at the crash course for members of the next House of Representatives (DPR).

This is the first time such a course has been held and critics had said the course was merely indoctrination.

But at least one skeptical future legislator, Abduh, told the President yesterday that his fears about the six-day course were wrong.

"Before attending this course I asked myself what the President wanted from us. I would boycott the course if it was only for indoctrination purpose," Abduh told Soeharto. "Now I realize the benefits of this course."

Soeharto made the unexpected visit to the palace where 100 future legislators were taking part in the course.

The president was accompanied by State Minister for Special Assignment Harmoko who is tipped to be elected as the House's new Speaker next month.

"Are any of you still suspicious of this course?" Soeharto asked when entering the discussion room.

The President opened the course last month for the 500 members of the next House.

They were divided into five groups, the last of which the President dropped in on yesterday.

The last group includes United Development Party (PPP) chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum and former Armed Forces (ABRI) chief of sociopolitical affairs Lt.Gen. Syarwan Hamid.

Golkar won 325 of the contested House seats in the May general election, the PPP 89 seats and the Indonesian Democratic Party 11 seats. ABRI, whose members do not vote, are allotted 75 seats.

The President refused to address the meeting even though the future House members asked him to do so. (prb)