Many first-time voters undecided on candidates<\/p>\n
A. Junaidi, Jakarta<\/p>\n
At least 93 percent of Jakarta university students plan to vote
\nin the presidential election, but about 25 percent of the first-
\ntime voters have yet to decide who they will vote for on Monday.<\/p>\n
Among the reasons given by those who said they wouldn't vote
\nfor the incumbent, Megawati Soekarnoputri, was because \"her
\nhusband is meddlesome (reseh),\" referring to reports about Taufik
\nKiemas.<\/p>\n
Magdalena S. Halim of Atmajaya University announced on Friday
\nthe results of a survey by the university, which indicated that
\n25 percent of the 995 respondents were undecided.<\/p>\n
\"They are confused because of too many candidates, too many
\npromises, and unclear programs, as well as mudslinging,\"
\nMagdalena said in a seminar on students' political aspiration.<\/p>\n
The survey conducted between June 17 and June 25 showed that
\nthe percentage of students planning to vote had increased by 10
\npercent from the 83 percent reported by the university's last
\nsurvey in May.<\/p>\n
The respondents came from the University of Indonesia,
\nAtmajaya University, the Jakarta State University, Trisakti
\nUniversity, Paramadina University and the National University.<\/p>\n
Trisakti and Atmajaya are among the universities which lost
\nstudents in shooting incidents in 1998 and 1999 when presidential
\ncandidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto was the military commander.<\/p>\n
While Wiranto was favored by only 2.5 percent of respondents,
\nmost -- 28 percent -- said they preferred candidate Gen. (ret)
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono.<\/p>\n
\"Susilo is the favorite followed by Amien Rais, Megawati,
\nWiranto and Hamzah Haz,\" Magdalena said. Amien scored 25.8
\npercent, Megawati 8.7 percent, and Hamzah 0.6 percent.<\/p>\n
The military backgrounds of candidates was both a supporting
\nand weakening factor, she said.<\/p>\n
While the students who supported Susilo said he was a military
\nfigure with charisma, who was firm, nationalistic, and competent,
\nothers who did not support him said he was \"too militaristic\".<\/p>\n
The students who favored Amien said he was smart, honest,
\nbrave, modest and experienced in politics, and had no links to
\nthe past regime; while non-supporters said Amien was inconsistent
\nand too religious-minded.<\/p>\n
Sociologist Francisia Ery Seda said the reasons given in
\nsupport of candidates reflected the influence of campaigns.<\/p>\n
\"The students' reasons for supporting candidates are similar
\nto those given in the ads. It shows that politics is a
\nperception, especially created by the mass media, instead of a
\nfact,\" she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/many-first-time-voters-undecided-on-candidates-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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