Prabowo works hard to lure royal support

Alit Kartarahardja ,  THE JAKARTA POST ,  SINGARAJA   |  Mon, 06/29/2009 12:38 PM  |  Bali

Vice presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto visited the Puri Gede royal house of Buleleng in Singaraja, North Bali, on Saturday to gain support from members of royal families and religious leaders alike.

During the upcoming presidential election on July 8, Prabowo will accompany presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri, whose father, Soekarno, Indonesia's first president, was a descendant of Buleleng nobility.

Clad in Balinese traditional costume, Prabowo directly flew from Denpasar with his private helicopter to Singaraja's Mayor Metra airstrip. Previously, Prabowo and Megawati held a massive campaign at Padang Galak in Sanur on Saturday afternoon.

"Religion must be separated from state affairs and political practice. The state must protect any citizen who wants to practice any official religion without fear," Prabowo said before entering the palace.

He was warmly welcomed with a Sekar Jagat dance performed by Balinese girls in glittering costumes.

A number of royal members and High Hindu priest Ida Pedanda Made Gunung accompanied his visit to the palace while giving him a token of appreciation, a Sutasoma book derived from ancient writings containing rules and advice.

"I hope the book can become a guidance for a leader of Indonesia to govern the country wisely with respect for its people regardless of their religious, racial and cultural background," the priest told Prabowo.

Buleleng regency has long been the major home base of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

During the recent legislative election, the party won the majority of regional legislative seats. Prabowo continued his campaign on the neighboring island of Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.