Cheap Car Program Politically Motivated

Jakarta (Antara) - Political Communications expert from the University of Pelita Harapan Tjipta Lesmana said the cheap car program of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono administration is politically motivated. The program is launched to create good image of the president ahead of 2014 general elections, Tjipta Lemana said at a discussion at the Regional Representative Council (DPD) office here on Friday. "The programs of free rice and social aid for the poor were already launched earlier and now cheap cars for the middle class," he told the discussion titled "96 DPD members raise question about the cheap car program to the president". Also present at the discussion were chairman of the DPD Honorary Board A.M Fatwa, and former Jakarta governor Sutiyoso. The programs are to draw the sympathy of the people to the ruling Democratic Party, Tjipta said. The cheap car policy is designed also to block any step by Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, as PDI-P candidate to contest the presidency in 2014, he said. "The launch of the cheap car would foil efforts by Jokowi (Joko Widodo) to cope with traffic congestion with the city's mass transport project," he added. Joko Widodo has topped other presidential candidates in most surveys held in the country ahead of the 2014 presidential election. Tjipta said the central government should support the city's mass transport project instead of burdening the city's street with cheap cars. (*)