In Makassar, South Sulawesi, Yudhoyono supportershave their heads shaved to express their excitement over his likely win (JP/Andi Hajramurni)

Vice President Jusuf Kalla has congratulated President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on his commanding lead in the presidential election, which will see the  incumbent head the nation for another term.

In the first-ever televised congratulation in Indonesian history, Kalla, languishing in a distant third in provisional polling, lauded Yu-dhoyono for emerging the winner of the election in a single round.

“I’ve received congratulations from some good friends since early this morning, although I’ve reminded them [the triumph] has only been indicated by quick-count results,” Yudhoyono said Thursday at a press conference at his private residence in Cikeas, south of Jakarta.

“And as you see, I’ve just received a phone call from Pak Jusuf Kalla to congratulate me.”

Kalla, who called Yudhoyono from his official residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta, said, “I will go back to my hometown, Pak,” after Yudhoyono offered him another post once their term ends in October.

Yudhoyono said he had also received congratulations from world leaders over his all-but-certain re-election in Wednesday’s polls.

The only thing preventing his insurmountable 60 percent haul from being official is the General Elections Commission's (KPU) final tally, to be announced July 25.

Among the world leaders who called on Yudhoyono were Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

As for the conversation with Kalla, Yudhoyono said they had agreed the competition was harsh, but would maintain amicable relations.

“And most importantly, we will continue our task of running the government until the end of our term,” the President stressed.

He added he would hold a plenary Cabinet meeting next week, at which Kalla would also be present.

The two men will remain at the helm of the country until Oct. 20, when — if Yudhoyono's victory is given the go-ahead by the KPU — former finance minister and central bank governor Boediono will take over as vice president.

As of 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the KPU’s national tabulation canter had only gathered slightly more than 18 million votes, or a measly 10 percent from all registered voters, with the incumbent enjoying a provisional 61 percent.

In a statement on the results, the Indonesia Survey Institute (LSI) said Yudhoyono’s victory signaled the end of politics based on the character issues of race, faith and ethnicity, citing its exit poll conducted Wednesday.

“These character issues are already dead,” said LSI senior researcher Saiful Mujani.

“That kind of politicking is dead and the murderers are the voters themselves.

“Our poll showed, for instance, that Yudhoyono was much more popular among female voters than Megawati [Soekarnoputri], the only female candidate in the election. That showed gender was not a

factor.”

The quick count showed 60.8 percent of respondents voted for Yudhoyono, followed by Megawati with 26.6 percent and Kalla with 12.6 percent. “Another example showed that despite top Islamic leaders’ allegiance to Kalla, their grassroots followers favored Yudhoyono,” Saiful said.

Yudhoyono garnered 64 percent of votes from Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) voters and 58 percent from Muhammadiyah voters.

Kalla, by contrast, took only 10 percent and 18 percent respectively, even less than Megawati, who took 26 percent and 24 percent respectively. NU and Muhammadiyah are the country's two largest Muslim organizations.

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