Makassar, South Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - A former student activist said Indonesia's political life was now still dominated by businessmen and industrialists.

"There are two political powers right now, namely the community and the business and industrial lobbies. This is the political reality. In Indonesia businessmen are still dominating political life," Muhaimin Iskandar who is now minister of manpower said at the 32nd Congress of the Indonesian Christian Students Association (GMKI) here on Saturday.

He said to reduce the influence of business in the political field GMKI and other student movements should develop dual professionalism by familiarizing themselves also with entrepreneurship.

He referred to Aburizal Bakrie as an example who with his business power could successfully accede to the Golkar Party's leadership.

If political activists also developed entrepreneurship, the government's obligation to create jobs would in the future not be too heavy.

Muhaimin who is also chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) said he also hoped GMKI would continue to synergize with the Cipayung Students Group (in which Muhaimin used to be active) that had so far always been consistent in fighting in the people's interests.

"To me, student movements in the past were tougher than now. What is important now is integrating democracy in the cultural framework so that it will be more meaningful and give more welfare to the people," he said.

The committee secretary of the Congress, Wendy Tikupadang, said around 600 GMKI cadres from 75 districts/cities and 15 coordination regions were attending the meeting.
(T.SYS/A014)Â