YUDHOYONO TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE JAVA

Kendari, S E Sulawesi, June 13 (ANTARA) - Presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said development outside Java must be given higher priority so that equal development could be made throughout Indonesia.

"Development should not be carried out in one place only but should be balanced and should be oriented to the benefit of the people," Yudhoyono said when campaigning at the National Sports Committee Stadium here on Saturday.

He said that in his five year term since 2004 his government had done a lot of things to boost just and equitable development despite shortcomings here and there that should be improved by the next government.

"Over the past five years we have made a lot of things to improve security and political conditions, legal enforcement and people's welfare. Fight against crimes and corruption continued to be made, economy, people's welfare, and education continued to be generated and improved. Indonesia has increasingly been playing an important role in the international affairs," Yudhoyono said.

In the campaign which was attended by about 1,000 supporters of the Democratic Party, Yudhoyono explained that despite the success, of course there were also shortcomings.

"We have to honestly admit that there were still shortcomings but in the coming five years we are going to improve them so that we could achieve a better situation," Yudhoyono, who is also incumbent president, said.

He said that the development carried out in regions must also be supported by the regional government with innovative and creative ideas so that the development carried out together with the central government could create just and equitable development results.

"In the past, investment by businesses was made only in big cities. Ahead, I want big investment to enter regions so that development would be fair, investment would increase and the people's prosperity would be improved. The same also true to the development of infrastructure like roads, ports, airports. Electricity which could not yet be supplied to all regions would soon be distributed fairly," he said.