Megawati receives support from PKB<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri and her top aides met on
\nMonday with leaders of the National Awakening Party (PKB), and
\nemerged with the latter's firm support for her presidential bid.<\/p>\n
PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil told a media conference after
\nthe meeting that Megawati, whose Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) won the most votes in the June 7 polls,
\nhad the right to lead the country.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan took 33.7 percent of the vote, with the ruling
\nGolkar party trailing in second place with 22.4 percent. PKB took
\nthird place with 12.6 percent of the vote.<\/p>\n
In a statement, PKB said the fact that PDI Perjuangan won the
\nelections \"should be reflected on\" during the General Session of
\nthe People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) when it picks the next
\npresident in November.<\/p>\n
Under the electoral system, the results of the general
\nelection, which is to choose legislators, is not necessarily
\nreflected in the presidential election in the 700-member MPR.<\/p>\n
PKB secretary-general Muhaimin Iskandar said the decision was
\nmade to give the people political certainty. \"The people have
\nbeen waiting for this certainty. The international world, too,
\nhas been waiting for it,\" Muhaimin told detik.com on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Megawati and incumbent President B.J. Habibie, who is the
\nruling Golkar's sole presidential candidate, are currently the
\ntwo main contenders for the nation's top slot.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile on Tuesday, Megawati criticized politicians for
\nputting their maneuvering ahead of stopping the violence raging
\nin Aceh and the Maluku capital of Ambon.<\/p>\n
Addressing loyalists during an Independence Day flag-raising
\nceremony in West Jakarta, Megawati also criticized the delay in
\nallotting legislative seats won by parties in the elections.<\/p>\n
Noting the \"suffering\" of people in Ambon and Aceh, she
\naccused politicians of failing to show solidarity with the
\npopulations in the stricken regions.<\/p>\n
\"The only thing they concentrate on is how to become
\nlegislators,\" she said, adding that politicians were obsessed
\nwith \"how to divide forces instead of concentrating on how to
\nrebuild the country\".<\/p>\n
Megawati told reporters after the ceremony that she planned to
\nvisit riot-torn Ambon as well as Aceh, where separatist violence
\nis on the rise.<\/p>\n
\"This is a priority of my work schedule as a party leader...
\nand the trips will most likely take place in the coming days,\"
\nMegawati said. (05\/byg\/jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-receives-support-from-pkb-1447893297",
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