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)