Kalla expects Makassar people be independent in developing the country

Vice President Jusuf Kalla has encouraged Makassar and Bugis people to be independent in developing the country and reduce their dependency on foreign aid.

"We have to maintain our dynamic and resolute culture to move forward like our Makassar and Bugis predecessors did," Kalla told the Nahdlatul Ulum Islamic School in Maros, South Sulawesi on Friday.

Kalla came to the school, which was developed on 3.3 hectares of land his family granted to the local people, to celebrate its seventh anniversary.

He pointed out the importance of people's behavioral changes so that development and thus an improvement in people's welfare could be realized soon.

"We have to improve services for the people soon, the sooner the better," he said.

After attending the anniversary, Kalla went to Xian Ma temple and met with Chinese Indonesian local, Tony Gozal.