JUSUF KALLA NOW BELONGS TO ALL PEOPLE: GOLKAR EXECUTIVE

Yogyakarta, June 11 (ANTARA) - Golkar Party chairman Jusuf Kalla is now a figure belonging not only to the party but to the entire people of Indonesia, a regional Golkar executive said.

"Golkar has nominated Jusuf Kalla as presidential candidate in the July 8 election and now he belongs to all the people of Indonesia," chairman of Golakr's Yogyakarta chapter, Gandung Pardiman, said here on Thursday.

Commenting on a campaign dialog held by Jusuf Kalla and his running mate Wiranto (JK-Wiranto pair) here, Pardiman said the duo no longer belonged to Golkar only but to all people in the country.

"Therefore, let us support the JK-Wiranto duo and help them win the upcoming July 8 presidential election," Pardiman said.

According to him, Jusuf Kalla and Wiranto made a perfect pair as they paid serious attention to economically-weak people such as farmers, fishermen, laborers, becak drivers, civil servants, and TNI soldiers and police.

"In Indonesia there are only two civilian leaders who have been paying serious attention to the TNI, namely the country's first president, Soekarno, and Vice President Jusuf Kalla. These two civilian leaders have great concern for and full understanding of the TNI's real condition," Pardiman said.

He said the two leaders were much aware that only a strong TNI would be able to protect and maintain national sovereignty.

"Therefore, Jusuf Kalla and Wiranto will raise the defense budget in their effort to make the country more respected by other countries," Gandung Pardiman said.

He said Jusuf Kalla was also paying great attention to low-income people as proven by his plan to develop small businesses through people-oriented economic policies.

"In light of all these, the people should no longer hesitate to vote for the Kalla-Wiranto duo in the July presidential election, because a Kalla-Wiranto victory is the victory of all Indonesian people," Pardiman said.

The campaign dialog in Yogyakarta on Thursday was participated in by thousands of JK-Wiranto supporters and sympathizers from the Golkar Party, People's Conscience Party (Hanura), and National Mandate Party (PAN).***1***