Stop complaining about shortcomings: Soeharto

Stop complaining about shortcomings: Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto said yesterday it was
needless for the nation to complain about development
shortcomings, much less let discontent grow so that people lost
self control and became destructive.

Opening the 18th National Koran Reading Contest in Jambi last
night, Soeharto said the nation should be grateful for the
success and happiness it had received. It should also be strong
and patient when facing scarcity and failure.

"Hasn't Allah promised in the Koran that He is with those who
are patient," Soeharto said.

"We should never stop cherishing the successful development
that we have been doing all this time which has brought us
national pride," he said. "Therefore, let's start during the
festivities of this Koran reading contest to give more back to
our surroundings."

Soeharto urged Moslems to help their brothers still living in
poverty, especially by sending their children to school.

"Our Prophet Muhammad reminded us that poverty can lead people
to become infidels, while ignorance makes people unable to
discern right from wrong," he said.

The government is spending Rp 12 billion (US$500 million) on
the week-long contest which involves 1,257 delegations from all
corners of Indonesia. About 5,000 people, including guests from
neighboring countries, the Middle East and South Africa, attended
the opening ceremony, Antara reported.

Jambi Governor Abdurrahman Sayoeti was quoted by the news
agency as saying Tuesday that 40 percent of funding for the
contest had been drawn from the last two provincial budgets.

Other funding had come from donations by businesspeople and
the general public, and every participating province had
contributed Rp 20 million, he said.

"So, staging the event wouldn't disturb the province's other
development sectors," Sayoeti said.

The contest is being held about seven kilometers away from the
province's capital Jambi. It will end July 15.

President Soeharto said, "If Moslems have been able to
collectively raise that huge sum of money to stage this event, we
should be able to raise a much bigger sum to help eradicate
poverty and provide scholarships to poor children."

Soeharto said this might not be easy although it would succeed
if it were carried out with strong will and sincerity. (aan)