... the party needs a leader who has a main agenda to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people...Bandung, W Java (ANTARA News) - The United Development Party (PPP) has set itself a target to increase around 12 million members in the next three years until 2014.
"To reach the target, the party needs a leader who has a main agenda to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people," PPP general chairman Suryadharma Ali said in his opening address of the 7th national congress of the party at Sabuga building here on Sunday.
Ali explained that the leader who has such an agenda should be able to make a significant economic growth by empowering the poor people in the rural areas.
"By empowering the poor people in the rural areas, they will work with a high spirit and move economic development to national level," he said.
On the occasion Suryadharma also said that to empower the poor people they need to be given farmland through agrarian reform programs.
According to him, Indonesia has extensive land for agriculture but many of its people did not have enough farmland for cultivation.
"If the poor people in the rural areas are given enough farmland for growing crops, they will lose their interest in working in the informal sector abroad," Suryadharma Ali said.
Meanwhile, President Susilo B Yudhoyono in his opening address expressed appreciation and gratitude to PPP which has so far shown an objective political attitude.
The president on the occasion also expressed his joy because PPP has become part of the coalition of political parties supporting the government since 2009.
"In this regard I extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the United Development Party which in many ways has been showing an objective political attitude," the president said.
In the company of First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, the head of state said PPP`s decision to become part of government-supporting coalition parties was right and based on reality and rational consideration.
(ANT.O001)
Editor: Ade P Marboen
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