Don`t set rich, poor against each other: president

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he was hoping no party would try to set the rich and the poor in the country against each other, much less fan animosity between them.

"As the leader of this country, I don`t want to see such antagonism. What we need to do is to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor," he said when officiating at the inauguration of a health clinic on the premises of the Sunda Kelapa Grand Mosque here Friday.

Also present at the function were Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari, Home Minister Mardiyanto and Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso.

The health clinic is designed to give free health services around the clock to poor people living in and around Jakarta.

The five-storey facility has an intensive care unit, a laboratory and a dispensary, among others.

The president said he was always encouraging well-to-do families to help the poor.

"This is the positive approach. By bridging the gap between the rich and the poor based on our moral, social and religious obligations, we will be helping alleviate poverty in the country," he said.