Solo – President Soeharto brought forward, "If the House of Representatives (DPR) indeed considers that I am incompetent, yes, please "withdraw" me, namely through an Extraordinary Session of the Peoples Consultative Congress (MPR)."

"I have no objections to "step down" from my office as President, I shall not maintain the function which I have executed all this time. Provided that all is done in a consitutional way. If it violating the law I shall really pummel (tak'gebug)," said the President bluntly, even interspersed with laughter, at the occasion of his meeting with the Moslem pelgrims after inaugurating the Donohudan Haj Dormitories at Boyolali, Central Java, Friday (28/2).

Besides inaugurating the Haj Embarkation located six kilometer from Solo's Adisumarno Airport, the President simultaneously inaugurated the extension of the Regional Public Hospital Dr Moewardi in Solo.

Accompanied by the Minister of Religious Affairs, the Minister of Health, and the Governor of Central Java, President Soeharto described the mechanism of national leadership as it is regulated in the 1945 Constitution. He commented on the statement of the IInd Rector's Assistant of the Institute of the Koran Science in Wonosobo, Drs Muchatab Hamzah in the interview.

The President stressed the importance of the coming 1997 General Elections, because the general elections which are held each five years forms an opportunity for the people to renew their leaders. "So if you don't participate, it is your own fault. Don't blame others. For instance who choose to become the blanc group (golput), then invite others, that is their own fault, they will themselves loose," he said.

Through the general elections is expected that the people will use its right to choose its representatives to implement the people's sovereignty. And through the MPR the Broad Outlines of the Nation's Direction (GBHN) will be determined as the materialization of the people's sovereignty.

"Whatever is decided, it is on behalf of the people, therefore the general elections must be implemented rightly and in the best way," said the President.

No objections

The President continued, after determining the GBHN, the following task of the MPR is to choose the President as holder of the Mandate. Viewed from the mecdhanism of national leadership as is regulated in the 1945 Conmstitution, he said, "The President only implements what has been resolved by the people which is compiled in the MPR."

"So it is impossible that the President does all kinds of unnecessary things (neko-neko). If neko-neko he can be withdrawn and than replaced through an Extraordinary Session of the MPR," said President Soeharto.

He also said that he never made a problem out of the General Elections. As mandate holder who implemented and carried out the people's trust, he only carried out what was instructed and stipulated in the GBHN.

"If in this implementation I am countered by the DPR, please go ahead. And if I indeed am considered incompetent, please withdraw me via an Extraordinary Session of the MPR," the President continued.

Laughing he said, "I have totally no objections and will not maintain. If the people want Pak Harto to 'step down', thank you, I shall receive it well. For the sake of the people and our Constitution."

Consciousness of religion

In his welcoming speech the Head of State said that the increase of the society's income brought an important influence for the rate of religious consciousness. "There is at present the view that a society which is increasing in prosperity will set aside religion from individual life and from the society. Such a view will probably never happen in our country, because our nation has a strong religious feeling," he said.

The President stressed that the increase of religious consciousness could increase moral consciousness of the society. He said, "A good character as the fruit of religious experience in the society will urge the growth of discipline, the will to work hard, to live economically, to be modest in intercourse with the neighbour. The growth of such moral awareness is very important for the development of our nation."

At the interview the President reminded the Moslem scholars (alim ulama) about the existence of groups in the society which still did not accept the Pancasila and 1945 Constitution. "They always use the situation to create instability. Meanwhile national stability is a conditio sine qua non for national development which expects growth and equal spread," he said.

He added, "Recently there are sounds about changing the Pancasila state. If we don't agree (with those wishes), yes, we have to face it without doubt."

The inauguration ceremony of the Donohudan Haj Dormitory, about 10 km West of Solo yesterday was splendid with configurations on the platform and the Soneta Group Malayan Orchestra directly conducted by Rhoma Irama. The Soneta Group in white robes and turbans, supported by 350 tambourine players sang Talaal Badru and Haji songs.

Erasing poverty At the beginning of the interview President Soeharto described the blessing of those who performed the haj pilgrimage or the pilgrimage not during the haj season (umroh). However, said the President, there is actually a greater blessing if they also think about the Fatherland in the efforts to erase poverty.

"There are many ways for blessings. Among others by using money in possession to erase poverty. The blessing will be greater than only using the money as state's foreign exchange to go on pilgrimage," he said.

The President disclosed that there are at the moment still 11 percent of the 200 million Indonesian inhabitants who live in poverty. To erase poverty the Government performed either the Presidential Instruction Program for Backward Villages (IDT) or the non-IDT, the People's Welfare (Kesra) and Kukesra.

He also spoke about the fund collected through Haj Brotherhood Institute, from a donnation of Rp 10,000 per pilgrim. This fund was among others used to help poor pilgrims and to erase poverty.

Of the Haj Brotherhood fund has at the moment been collected Rp 75 billion - Rp 100 billion at the bank as perpetual fund. Said fund is however neither state's possession nor state's revenue. The management should therefore be transparent to prevent suspicion.(*)