Jakarta – Golkar Party has expressed concern over the Indonesian government's program to privatize and divest a number of state companies, as it has led to the selling of state assets, which could undermine the country's economic independence, its chairman has said.

Golkar is thus urging the government to consider the people's interests and the economy in proceeding with its privatization and divestment program, Akbar Tandjung said while conveying the results of the meeting of the party's leaders which ended here Friday.

Akbar, who is also speaker of the House of Representatives, said the government should give priority to efforts to stabilize the price of basic necessities for the sake of the people, especially the poor.