President reaffirms continuation of pro-people programs

Medan, N Sumatra (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reaffirmed his government would continue carrying out pro-people programs such as the direct assistance fund (BLT) beyond the general elections.

"Such program like BLT is not only conducted by Indonesia as a developing country. In fact, advanced countries adopt such that program," the president said after conducting a outdoor campaign in Medan, North Sumatra, on Saturday.

He reiterated that BLT program had already been done since 2005-2006 and was then continued in 2008 and 2009.

"The direct assistance fund is not aimed for political interest, as what has been raised as political issue in the run up to the general election," he said.

Earlier in his campaign, the president in his oration stressed that pro-people program was not only BLT, but also rice for the poor and national program for the empowerment of self-reliant community (PNPM).

"Pro-people program should run unstopped and the Democrats Party will remain committed to the program which has to do with the interest of the people, so that this party should be elected by the people during the general election," the president said before hundreds of thousands of his party`s supporters.