President asks politicians not to sacrifice people`s interests

"I call on the politicans who are to run in district chief, mayoral, gubernatorial, parliamentary and presidential elections to remain sane, sportsmanlike, able to exercise self-restraint and not to sacrifice the people`s interests," the President said in a dialog with stock market players at the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) here Wednesday.

He said politicians and political parties must take part in the national and regional elections in accordance with the established rules and ethics and be able to accept victory or defeat equally well.

"If we all can uphold these principles, we will remain safe. But when small turbulences do occur, we should consider them as something normal in a country that is still in a process of transformation. But the police and other state security agencies will perform their tasks fully in anticipating such troubles. The law must be upheld. There will be no compromise in upholding the law for the sake of maintaining public security, stability and order," he said.

The President made the remarks in reply to a question from one of the stock market players who expressed concern about the possible outbreak of a political conflict and security disturbances in Indonesia such as had happened in Pakistan which would destabilize the country and undo the national economic progress achieved so far.