Interesting experiment<\/p>\n
According to Merdeka of July 2, Kwik Kian Gie, a member of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI), conducted a poll to find out
\nwho people thought would be the best candidate for the presidency
\nafter the general election.<\/p>\n
According to information 10,000 forms were distributed, but
\nthere is no information of where these forms were distributed. In
\nJava only, or on other islands, in Jakarta or also in other big
\ncities, to politicians only or also to intellectuals and the man
\non the street. This information would help determine the value of
\nthe poll. The end result is more or less according to the
\npeople's choice so far.<\/p>\n
Out of the 10,000 forms distributed, Megawati Soekarnoputri
\ntops the list with more than 50 percent or 5,642, and the rest
\ntrail far behind. Her brother Guntur Soekarnoputra got 56 votes,
\nbut her sister Rachmawati and Guruh Soekarnoputra managed to get
\nonly one vote each.<\/p>\n
The second most favorite, although with a big difference, is
\nAmien Rais (1,337 votes). Apparently former vice president Try
\nSutrisno is still in the running with 778 votes (third on the
\nlist) and Emil Salim (281 votes) and then surprisingly comes B.J.
\nHabibie with only 239 votes.<\/p>\n
Ex-vice president Sudharmono gets two votes and his successor
\nUmar Wirahadikusumah gains one vote only. But former president
\nSoeharto managed to beat his former VPs and collected four votes.
\nHis popular eldest daughter Mbak Tutut has to be satisfied with
\none vote.<\/p>\n
I thought that people who frequently were interviewed and\/or
\ngave press statements were very popular, but according to the
\nresults of this poll the contrary is true. Former Jakarta
\ngovernor Ali Sadikin gets only 65 votes, but Defense\/Armed Forces
\nchief Gen. Wiranto gets 69 votes.<\/p>\n
The results for other politically popular figures are
\ndisappointing, Sri Bintang (18), Mar'ie Muhammad (17), Rudini
\n(16), Siswono Yudhohusodo (13), Gus Dur (12), Ginandjar
\nKartasasmita (8), Sarwono Kusumaatmadja (8), Muhtar Pakpahan (6)
\nand Edi Sudradjat, who is tipped to be the next Golkar chief,
\n(4).<\/p>\n
I cannot judge the political value of this poll, but what Kwik
\nis doing does, in my mind, deserves a warm applause.<\/p>\n
Although article 6 of the 1945 Constitution stipulates that
\nonly an indigenous Indonesian can become president, I am very
\nhappy to see three names of our Chinese brothers on the list.
\nThis is a good sign and the beginning of a political development
\nin the right direction. They are, after all, Indonesian citizens
\nand have the same right and duties as Arab descendants and any
\nother Indonesians. The names I see on the list are Kwik Kian Gie
\n(95 votes), Ciputra (one vote) and Mohamad \"Bob\" Hasan (one
\nvote).<\/p>\n
May this development continue in the right direction and soon
\nwe will have one undivided, united nation. Why can the Peruvians
\nlive with a president of Japanese stock? Why in Suriname can
\ncitizens of Javanese descent become ministers and why can a
\ncolored man in the USA become a general and chairman of the Joint
\nChiefs of Staff? Let's learn from other nations and here in
\nIndonesia we should practice sincerely the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika
\n(unity in diversity) motto.<\/p>\n
SOEGIH ARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/interesting-experiment-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }