Candidates promise projects, programs

Erwida Maulia ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 06/30/2009 10:57 AM  |  Presidential Election

Presidential candidates are making promises of infrastructure projects in order to lure the public to vote for them in the July 8 election.

Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri promised Monday to construct a railway along Sumatra. Meanwhile while President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono promised a mega-construction project along Bengawan Solo River watershed to prevent floods.

Unlike other candidates, vice President Jusuf Kalla was involved in a state duty by visiting four provinces in eastern Indonesia.

Megawati, nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said if elected president for the 2009-2014 period, she would realize abandoned mid-term programs she had set while leading the country from 2001 to 2004.

The programs included plans to build 1,600 diesel stations for fishermen and to construct a railway connecting Lampung province in the southernmost part of Sumatra Island to Aceh province in the northernmost part.

"Nearly all mid-term programs I had planned were not realized because I served as president for only 2.5 years," Megawati told Antara in Bandar Lampung, Lampung.

"Now, if the Indonesian people vote for me, I promise I will continue the programs."

She further promised to ensure a sufficient fertilizer supply for farmers and realize other programs in line with her "people-based economy" principle.

Megawati also visited a free traditional medicine center organized by the local branch of PDI-P, during which she said the government should provide more access to traditional medicine, which she dubbed an "affordable alternative".

She also said Indonesia had large potential in terms of traditional herb medicines and that this should be explored through more research on the field.

SBY campaigned at the Sriwedari Stadium in Surakarta, Central Java where he said he would launch a "mega construction project" along the Bengawan Solo River if he was re-elected.

"Thus people will not be plagued with floods and water will run down through paddy fields," he said as quoted by kompas.com.

SBY also promised to improve public services, including those in the health, education and economic sectors.

Kalla visited North Maluku capital of Ternate to officiate the Fishing Landing Center in Ternate's Dufa-dufa harbor.

He said in his speech that Indonesia should end its dependence on other countries.

"We have the capacity to become a large nation. We have rich natural resources and capable human resources," he told Antara.

"Our future is in our own hands. We've been too long losing confidence on our own abilities."

Earlier on the day, Kalla visited Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi before heading to Ternate.

Kalla then flew to Ambon, Maluku before continuing to Manado, North Sulawesi.

Separately in Jakarta, a member of Kalla's campaign team, Alvin Lie, said Kalla would open wider opportunities for the private sector to take part in the country's electricity projects so as to help boost its electricity supply.

"Currently the private sector is already allowed to build power plants although the distribution is still carried out by state electricity firm PT PLN," Alvin said at a seminar on electricity scarcity.

"This is to ensure the state has a role in fulfilling the public basic needs, including electricity."

Alvin said local players would be prioritized when the public sector was allowed to distribute electricity.

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