The party`s decision to remain part of government-supporting coalition parties, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said was the right choice and judgment it has made on the basis of reality and rational considerations.
In his address to open the 7th National Congress of PPP in Bandung, West Java, on Sunday, President Yudhoyono expressed appreciation and gratitude to the party for its objective political attitude.
"In this regard I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the United Development Party which in many ways has shown an objective political attitude," the president said.
The head of state also said he was pleased that PPP has become part of the coalition of political parties supporting the government since 2009.
According to the president, the cadres of PPP have done so much to support the government in its efforts to embody a more democratic and inclusive political order for the progress of the people`s welfare.
"We should be grateful because PPP as part of the coalition parties has played a role in making a success of development programs at central and regional levels," the president said.
Wearing a brownish crimson batik shirt, the head of state invited all PPP cadres to go hand in hand with the government to step up national development and demonstrate a stable political life.
But he also called on the PPP cadres to cooperate with other political parties for a stable and conducive political life for the state and nation.
On the occasion the head of state also asked the party`s cadres, leaders, and sympathizers to continue developing the political life which was sustained by the harmony between the progress of the multi-party system and strong presidential system.
"I ask the leaders, cadres, and the sympathizers of the party to always give an example in maintaining an intelligent, clean, tolerant, and polite political behavior," the president said.
The head of state also asked them to propagate Islamic values in the life of democracy, because according to him, PPP has been part of Indonesia`s political history since the 1970s.
He added that PPP has proven to be successful in overcoming the tides of political turmoil which accompanied Indonesian history.
Therefore the president asked the party to continue increasing its role in national politics as part of efforts to contribute to national development.
The President saw PPP as a party struggling in the political field.
He then asked the Islamic-based party to assist the government not only in ensuring the success of development programs in the economic field but also to encourage the public to have a better knowledge of Islam.
According to PPP general chairman Suryadharma Ali, the president hoped the party would increase its role and support government policies and programs in accelerating national economic development.
In his address at the party`s 7th National Congress in Bandung, Suryadharma said on Sunday that PPP had a commitment to constantly support government programs and coalesce until the end of President Yudhoyono`s term of office.
He said the party has set itself a target to add around 12 million members in the next three years until 2014.
"To reach the target, the party needs a leader with a main agenda to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people," Suryadharma Ali said.
The PPP general chairman explained that a leader with such agenda should be able to make 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 able to promote economic development to national level," he said.
On the occasion Suryadharma also said that to empower the poor people would be by giving them farmland through agrarian reform programs.
According to him, Indonesia has extensive land for agriculture but many of its people did not have enough farm land for cultivation.
"If the poor people in the rural areas are given enough farmland for growing crops, they will lose interest in working in the informal sector abroad," Suryadharma Ali said at the opening of the congress.
The four-day congress until July 7, 2011, will discuss three main agendas covering politics, economy and people`s welfare.
In the political field, PPP aims to serve as a channel of Islamic political aspirations particularly for political parties which do not pass the parliamentary threshold. In addition, it is also determined to revive as the large organization of Muslims in the country.
In the economic field, the Islam-based party will show its support for the development of the national sharia banking industry.
In the field of people`s welfare, the party will encourage its cadres to support any campaign against social diseases such as abuse of narcotics and other criminal offenses.
The party is expected to elect a chairman at the Bandung congress. Three candidates will vie for the post, namely incumbent party chief Suryadharma Ali, chief of the party`s executive board Ahmad Muqowam and party cadre Ahmad Yani.
Meanwhile, former PPP chairman Hamzah Haz hoped that the party`s National Congress would produce a better leader.
"Whoever will emerge in this congress as the winner to lead PPP should also embrace the other candidates along with their teams of success," Hamzah said. (*)
Reporter: By Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
