Amien, Habibie popular

Amien, Habibie popular

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Moslem scholar Amien Rais, State Minister of
Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, poet Emha Ainun Nadjib,
Indonesian economist Soemitro Djojohadikusumo and politician
Megawati Soekarnoputri share a common trait.

They are this year's most popular figures, according to more
than 1,300 students of Gadjah Mada University. In a survey held
between July and August by the university's internal publication
Bulaksumur, the students named the first person that popped into
their mind whenever they discussed a certain field of endeavor.

Amien, the chairman of the 28-million-strong Muhammadiyah
Moslem organization, was voted the most popular figure in
politics in 1997. Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization
chairman Abdurrahman Wahid was the most popular in religious
affairs.

Habibie was the most popular figure in science and technology,
Emha in arts and culture, while Soemitro was the most popular
figure in economics.

Megawati was voted the most popular woman figure, while former
Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Hartono -- now minister of
information -- was the most popular figure in the military.

The students also chose Budiman Sudjatmiko, the chairman of
the outlawed Democratic People's Party (PRD), as the figure for
student movements, and the slain journalist Fuad Muhammad
Syafruddin, better known as Udin, as the most popular figure in
the Indonesian press. Udin got more votes than senior journalist
Goenawan Mohamad.

One of the questions began in the following way: "When you
speak about science and technology, who is the first person that
pops into your mind?" (23/09)