SBY makes most of final campaign

Erwida Maulia ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sun, 07/05/2009 11:29 AM  |  Headlines

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made the most of his final campaign day on Saturday gathering about 200,000 supporters at Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta, causing a massive traffic jam up to a radius of several kilometers away.

Yudhoyono said, before a mass of flag waving supporters from his Democratic Party and coalition partners, that if re-elected he and his running mate former central bank governor Boediono would lead Indonesia to survive the global economic crisis.

He reminded the public how under his leadership Indonesia recorded economic growth while most other countries in the world were experiencing economic downturn.

"Pak Boediono is a smart hard worker and an expert on the economy. Together we will lead you to survive this crisis," Yudhoyono said.

Yudhoyono then promised that within the next five years he would further boost the country's economic growth to 7 percent, reduce the poverty rate to between 8 and 10 percent and the unemployment rate to between 5 and 6 percent.

He also said he would protect all community members regardless of their race, ethnicity or origin, apparently responding to an argument sparked by one of his campaign team leaders, Andi Mallarangeng.

Andi was recently caught on camera saying that South Sulawesi people should choose only the best candidate, and unfortunately the best candidate did not come from the region.

"SBY and Boediono love all ethnic groups from Aceh to Batak, Javanese, Bugis, Papuans and others," Yudhoyono said.

He warned the public against black campaigns against him and Boediono during the cooling-down period between July 5 and 7, and asked them not to display campaign posters and items which they had put out in public places, since this is no longer allowed during the final three-day period up to polling day.

"And I apologize to people in Jakarta for causing the traffic congestion," he said before reminding people to vote for No. 2 on July 8.

The presidential candidate of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Megawati Soekarnoputri, and her running mate Prabowo Subianto of the Greater Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra) launched their final campaign in Semarang, Central Java.

Megawati said that she would show her tougher side should there be any foul play or intimidation during the July 8 presidential election.

"I'm always smiling when anything bad happens to me, but if our supporters are badly treated in any way, then I can be tough as well," she said as quoted by Detik.com.

Megawati said that she also planned to finish her father's unfinished tasks for the nation.

"The tasks of Sukarno, my father and Indonesia's first president, are not finished yet. Therefore, I, as his daughter, pledge to serve the people. So, please do not hesitate to vote for me," she said.

Prabowo said that to prevent foul play, voters had to closely monitor polling stations in their regions.

"Do not be lured by money. If you receive money, please remind yourself that this money belongs to the people. Choose No. 1 , no matter how much money you are given," he said.

Golkar Party's presidential candidate Jusuf Kalla and his running mate, Wiranto of the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), spent their last day campaigning in East Java.

Kalla promised that he would increase the budget allocation for education and add more funds for schools during a discussion with his supporters in Malang.

Earlier, Wiranto, told his supporters that Kalla was the right candidate to lead Indonesia out of economic difficulty.

"It is not the right time for former soldiers to lead the nation. That's why I decided to support Kalla as president and my job is to guard him," the man who was a former military commander said. (hdt)

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