MUHAMMADIYAH CONGRATULATES YUDHOYONO, BOEDIONO

Yogyakarta, Aug 18 (ANTARA) - Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin here on Tuesday congratulated Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on his being reelected as president, and Boediono as vice president.

"Our prayer for Yudhoyono-Boediono is that may Allah gives them power and strength to lead the country well in the next five years," the Muhammadiyah chairman said.

Syamsuddin said Muhammadiyah hoped that the elected president and vice president could carry out the people's mandate well with the help and guidance of Allah SWT.

He said the new president and vice president were also required to realize their vision, mission, and promise to the people during the electoral campaigns with full responsibility and consistency for the sake of people's welfare and national progress.

Syamsuddin expressed hope that in the next five years the elected president and vice president should be able to consistently and systematically solve the crucial national problem such as corruption, poverty, unemployment, environmental damage, state debt, Indonesian migrant workers, and the security of national assets.

"The next five years is a serious momentum for the new president and vice president to make a significant change in the field of economy, politics, social and culture, law, and national resilience," Din Syamsuddin said.

He added that the management of terrorism could also carried out by the president and vice president accurately and comprehensively by cutting the source of its funds.

"We hope the president and vice president will pay their big attention to the creation of national integrity, unity, sovereignty, and self-reliance," Din Syamsuddin said.

Muhammadiyah also appreciated the big spirit and statesman attitude of unelected pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto and Megawati Soekarnoputri-Prabowo Subianto.

"We also pray that Allah SWT will give them strength and wisdom to remain giving their contribution to the state and national development and progress," Din Syamsuddin said.