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Megawati, Hidayat best chance for election: Survey
Adianto P. Simamora , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 12/10/2008 10:52 AM | National
Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri has a strong chance of winning the top position in next year's elections if she picks Hidayat Nur Wahid of the Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) as her running mate, a survey says.
The poll, conducted by the Strategic Center for Development and Policy Review (Puskaptis), found the pairing of Megawati and Hidayat earned support from 40 percent of the respondents.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is the most popular presidential candidate, according to the survey, but faces difficulties in finding a suitable running mate with which to form a strong partnership.
The survey revealed that while a partnership with Yogyakarta sultan Hamengkubuwono X garnered Yudhoyono the most support, it still ranked him behind the combination of Megawati and Hidayat by almost 10 percent. The Yudhoyono-Hidayat team proved the least successful match-up, only securing around 11 percent of respondents' support.
"If Yudhoyono does not change his 2004 winning partnership with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, the pair will only receive 20 percent of the votes," Puskaptis executive director Husin Yazid said Tuesday.
Megawati chairs the nationalist-based Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), while Hamengkubuwono X is an advisor to the Golkar Party, which Kalla leads.
The survey, conducted between Nov. 24 and Dec. 26, involved almost 1,500 respondents with a margin of error between 3 to 5 percent.
Husin said public support for Yudhoyono and Kalla was declining due to the government's poor performance tackling the global economic crisis.
"About 38 percent of people surveyed believe Yudhoyono cannot settle the economic problems facing the country in the final year of his term," Husin said.
The popularity of Megawati and Hidayat suggested respondents are leaning toward new leadership, Husin added.
The survey found 64 percent of respondents desired a leadership duo who could save the country's economy, create new jobs and improve people's welfare.
"Around 85 percent of respondents want changes and reform in government policies, particularly those aimed at improving economic conditions," Husin said.
The survey found Kalla's popularity continues to fall, dropping to third most popular vice presidential candidate behind Hamengkubuwono and Hidayat.
In its previous May survey, Puskaptis found Yudhoyono and Kalla would maintain their positions if the presidential election was held that day.
The country will host presidential elections in July, 2009.
Indonesian Science Institute (LIPI) researcher Alfan Alfian said the Puskaptis survey was suggesting an almost unthinkable coalition of the PDI-P and the PKS in the presidential election.
"It is interesting because the two parties promote different ideologies," he said.
Politicians from the PDI-P Ganjar Pranowo supported the survey results, saying it would provide them with new evidence when selecting a running mate for Megawati later this month.
"We will study the survey, including its methodology and respondents," he said.
"We will open our minds to public aspirations, including opinion surveys. We want to know the public's response if Megawati pairs with Hidayat, Akbar Tanjung, Sultan or Kalla."
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Othman (not verified) — Tue, 12/23/2008 - 7:18pm
seems to be realistic. The most reason to say the best candidate is that both names have a good political machines and represent 2 biggest mainstream of Grass-Road, called "Ummat" and "Wong Chilik"
Andrew (not verified) — Thu, 12/18/2008 - 1:29am
Please can the Jakarta Post give us some clear information on the policies of the various political parties? What are they promising to do if they are elected? This would be very helpful, and very interesting to the readers I am sure. Clear information is very hard to find. All we know is the party name and the flag color. All we can do is use our gut instincts to choose who seems to be a good candidate, but it's just a guess really. I remember my mother (God bless her) used to choose candidates based on who had the nicest haircut. I feel this election is similar.
On a related matter, what happened to PAN's Amien Reis? He was the voice of common sense and my favourite during the chaos of Pak Harto's fall from power in the late 90's. I had rather hoped he would be the next president. He would be a good candidate now I think.
Ira mira — Wed, 12/17/2008 - 7:51am
Ira Mirawati (www.irafirmansyah.wordpress.com)
In Leadership theory there is genetic theory. Leadership gen in her father will inherent in her leadership style. but this theory do not appropriate with Mega, SHE HAVE NOTHING about her father leadership style.
we even know Mega as "Mrs No Comment" but now she has change to be "Mrs too many comment". both of it really bad for our nation leader.
I think, we still have many potential people to choose as our next president.
Jokobodo (not verified) — Tue, 12/16/2008 - 10:25pm
Bu Mega, are you serious in running again for president? You must be kidding.
Imam (not verified) — Tue, 12/16/2008 - 10:26am
Given that Mega showed her terrible performance when she was on the top job, in my opinion, she doesn't seem to be a promising candidate for next year presidential election. She says nice things but she actually does almost nothing - talk much, do less! It is unfortunate that millions of Indonesians do not see the signs. I don't even think that there is any single presidential candidate who is eligible to bring Indonesia to a new era of prosperity. Politic sucks, it always tries to manipulate things for its own sake. So do not vote because they are not good people!
Dom (not verified) — Mon, 12/15/2008 - 5:55pm
Are people still taking Megawati seriously ?
Gunawan (not verified) — Mon, 12/15/2008 - 12:42pm
It just shows PDIP is full of people who put their own self interest above the nation otherwise they would not pick her as the party candidate. Knowing her performance last time how could anyone with brain could pick her ? Maybe PDIP party members are just using her to enrich themselves. Anybody knows who these party members are ??
Beatrix (not verified) — Mon, 12/15/2008 - 8:08am
It is very sad for Megawati (PDI_P) if she choose Hidayat (PKS) as her vice because PKS is islam party, it is religion party, as we know islam party doesn't popular in minority people.
Jon (not verified) — Sat, 12/13/2008 - 6:38pm
It is very sad that PDI.p is putting mega on the stand again well she was terrible when she and her husband were elected president. i mean she already lost ones do they think she will win now??? It is really insane. When you see the list of candidate for the top job it is really depressing from Kalla to Mega and dont even speak about Hidayat that will blow this whole country up, now the sultan seems to be a good real Indonesian but really doesnt seem to come to Obama knee as a leader of such a important country. It is unbelievable that out of 240 million people that the best you can come up with is Akbar tanjung witch is a old Suharto cronie.
Norman (not verified) — Sat, 12/13/2008 - 10:33am
i expect Hidayat will lead this nations but not megawati, because she already proved her performance last time and i was honestly not satisfied with her. yudhoyono even better than previous, but he is steering by cold blood businessman who doesn't have sense of "wong cilik"...