PT Bosowa Corporation

THE JAKARTA POST/JAKARTA

The Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi) has thrown its support behind President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla to continue their partnership for a second five-year term in office. Hipmi chairman Erwin Aksa, also a nephew of Kalla, told a national meeting of the association Tuesday that throughout the last four and half years of the SBY-JK duo, Indonesias economic policies have been "on the right track". This economic direction, Erwin said, should not be disrupted by "frictions" that could lead into "dis-sension", saying under the current leadership Indonesia has been be-coming more "stable, peaceful and united". The nation has also gained invaluable trust from the international world. In response, Yudhoyono, who opened the Tuesday event, said that unity was "important" and "beautiful", and would lead the country to better growth in the future. "I agree with what Erwin has said. I am in support of it ... Lets maintain the good atmosphere and what we have done," the President said. Separately, State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar said Yudhoyono and Kalla would maintain their political partnership to contest the July 8 presidential election.

"I do not see any signs of a split between the Yudhoyono-Kalla duoahead of the elections. I believe they will run together again,"Rachmat, who was part of the success team for Yudhoyono and Kalla inthe 2004 elections, told The Jakarta Post. Asked about Kallaspresidential bid, Rachmat, also a former secretary general of theGolkar Party, said it was normal for a party chairman to announce theirintention to run for presidency. "It [the statement] is merely theresult of party processes behind the scenes, but it is alwaysinterpreted dramatically by many, including the media," he said. Therelationship between Yudhoyono and Kalla has been tense over the pastfew weeks since Kalla stated his readiness to run for president. Inresponse, Yudhoyono said he appreciated Kallas political will and rightto run for the presidency, but hoped they both would remain committedto their leadership until the end of their term in office on Oct. 20.