Soeharto tells Jakartans not to be complacent

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)