Soeharto says election not a mere formality

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto dismissed as untrue yesterday cynics' view that the coming election was a mere formality to legitimize his administration.

"The election is not a ploy by government to maintain the status quo. It's a forum for the people to exercise their basic political rights," he said in a meeting with leaders of the Indonesian Ulemas' Council at the state palace.

He said general elections had occurred regularly throughout his 30-year tenure, and that more than 100 million citizens would go to polling stations on May 29.

The May election, his sixth as President, would be of historic importance because the elected representatives would serve into the next century, he said.

People will vote for Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) or the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) whose candidates will vie for 425 seats in the House of Representatives.

The 500-seat House is dominated by Golkar, which has 282 seats, and the Armed Forces, which has 100 seats. But on May 29 the number of seats awarded to the Armed Forces will be cut to 75.

Critics say the election regulations favor Golkar, and that the PPP and PDI cannot win because they don't have the support of the bureaucracy or the Armed Forces.

Golkar is expected to win another landslide victory at this election, which some say is a mere formality for the government to extend its mandate.

Some groups have openly called for the public to boycott the election.

President Soeharto said the people should work hard to ensure that the May election was a success "so that the nation might enter the 21st century with greater determination".

"The people's elected representatives will endorse the guidelines of state policy, elect a new president and vice president. And the heads of local government will pass bills and endorse budgets.

"All this is vital for Indonesia to prepare to enter the 21st century," he said.

A president and vice president will be elected next March by the People's Consultative Assembly, Indonesia's highest law- making body.

President Soeharto is expected to retain his post if he agrees to a nomination. Debate is raging on who will run for vice president. There has never been more than one nominee for president or vice president in the country's history.

Soeharto called on the ulemas to help maintain order and make the 1997 poll and the 1998 presidential election a success.

"Creating peace and order in society are part of ulemas' religious duty," he said.

About 90 percent of the country's 200 million people are Moslem, making it the world's largest Moslem country.

About 150 leaders of the ulemas council opened the annual three-day meeting Thursday night. (pan)