Soeharto tells Jakartans not to be complacent
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto told residents of Jakarta on Saturday not to be complacent after winning the nation's most prestigious development award.
"Complacency could weaken our zest for development and consume our alertness," Soeharto said after presenting the Parasamya Purnakarya Nugraha development award to Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja at a ceremony at the Jakarta Fairgrounds.
In front of a crowd of 20,000 spectators, the president also presented the Prayojanakriya Pata Parasamya Purnakarya Nugraha award to the governors of West Java and West Sumatra provinces.
The Parasamya is a meritorious award given to provinces for their outstanding achievement during the past Five Year Development (Pelita) period.
The Prayojanakriya award is given to former recipients of the Parasamya award, which sustain the pace of their previous achievements. East Java won the Parasamya award in 1974, Central Java in 1979, West Sumatra in 1984 and West Java in 1989.
Three of several points evaluated in determining whether a province deserves the awards are how the province organizes its administrative affairs, encourages the public's participation and preserves the environment.
Soeharto also urged the provinces to improve their performances during the ongoing five year development plan.
He said that Indonesia still has to work hard to step up national development.
Following the official ceremony, 400 dancers wearing colorful outfits performed an operatic show, Gebyar Parasamya (Parasamya Hurrah) for the visitors, who included several ministers, representatives of foreign nations and business leaders.
Appreciation
In a related development, Governor Surjadi thanked residents of the capital for their support in every development program, saying that the government and the public should continue the good work for a better future for Jakarta.
He said in a successive meeting at the City Council that the former governors of Jakarta also had contributed to the outstanding achievement.
Wiyogo Atmodarminto, Surjadi's predecessor, reminded journalists that numerous things still have to be done to improve the quality of living in Jakarta.
Wiyogo said that the capital, whose current population is in excess of eight million, with another two million commuting in daily, is in a dire need of solving its transportation problems.
"We should develop a reliable mass transit system as soon as possible," he said.
Another former governor, R. Soeprapto, who governed the capital between 1982 and 1987, also visited the City Council to share the joy over the award.
Ali Sadikin, one of Jakarta's most prominent governors and a member of the Petisi 50 dissident group, did not attend the meeting. A reserved seat with his name was prepared next to other former governors' seats.
"Maybe he has something more important to do," said Wiyogo, confirming that Ali Sadikin, usually banned from attending state ceremonies, had been invited to celebrate the award.
Ali Sadikin governed the capital from 1966 to 1977, and Wiyogo, who was known for banning the three-wheeled pedicabs from Jakarta, served from 1987 to 1992.
Celebration
A 50-member choir, led by Pranadjaja, a senior music teacher in Jakarta, mesmerized the audience with their performance of Betawi (indigenous Jakarta) folk songs such as Jali-jali.
"Ini dia si Jali-jali ... (Here it is, Jali-jali)," caroled the choir, drawing a long salutation from the audience.
Clad in blue tops, pink head-scarfs and batik clothes, the dozens of lovely children in the choir, won the hearts of the people attending the semi-official meeting at the City Council.
As if attending a formal music concert, some of the government officials shouted, "More, more, more," when the children ended their singing.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people, including entertainers, comedians and pop singers, paraded the award from the office of the governor to the South, East, North, West and Central Jakarta mayoralties.
"The award belongs to the public. We must show it to its owners," said M.H. Ritonga, the speaker of the City Council.
The joy continued to echo on Saturday night on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta, in front of City Hall, as thousands of people enjoyed a dangdut music show. (09)