President Asks Regional Heads to Ensure Election Security

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked all regional heads to play their active role in ensuring the social stability and security in the run up to 2014 general elections. "Let us keep in mind that the political climate this year until the run up to the 2014 general elections will increase and has the potential to disturb social and political security. If the political competition is not managed well, it will have an effect on our economy," the president said when opening the the National Development Planning Meeting (Musrenbangnas) here on Tuesday. According to the head of state, the smoothness and success of general and presidential elections were not the responsibility of General Election Commission (KPU) and General Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) alone but also of all parties including the regional heads. "That is the portrait of our country this year and next year, and therefore let us manage well these political years across the country," the president noted. He added that besides maintaining social stability and political security during the election years, efforts to maintain national economic growth and security should be made. "Do not think only the economic growth but also consider our economic security to increase the welfare of our people and to alleviate the poverty rate," he said. (*)