Democratic Party fortune tellers' favorite
Democratic Party fortune tellers' favorite
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Many scholars and political observers have made in-depth and
informed predictions about the results of the April 5 legislative
election, some even going so far as to predict the results of
country's first direct presidential elections on July 5.
Their conclusions are often dismissed by politicians,
especially those who do badly in their predictions, as the
reasoning of "know-it-alls".
And, as recent reports indicate, it seems many politicians are
more interested in finding out opinions of supernaturalists,
dukun, or soothsayers.
In the spirit of this spiritual questioning, The Jakarta Post
talked to fortune tellers on Wednesday to hear their divinations
about who would do best in the legislative election... and
beyond.
According to a noted fortune teller from Surabaya, Suhu Hery,
the future looks brightest for the Democratic Party. This newly
established party, with Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's, as its
presidential candidate, will be the most impressive newcomer,
outshining even the National Awakening Party (PKB) headed by
former president Abdurrahman Wahid in the April 5 legislative
election.
Susilo would also be strong competition to incumbent President
Megawati Soekarnoputri in the July 5 direct presidential
election, Suhu said.
He predicted the Golkar Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI-P), the National Mandate Party (PAN), and the
United Development Party (PPP) would still dominate the top five
parties as they did in the 1999 election. He refused, however, to
rank the parties in this election.
"The year and month will take sides with these four parties,
while the PKB will see a decreased position because this month
will be very unfortunate for it," Suhu said,
He argued Golkar would win the most votes outside Java and
while many grassroot voters would still vote for the PDI-P, which
dominated the votes last time around.
The country's second largest Muslim organization,
Muhammadiyah, would fully back up PAN, Suhu said. The PPP
meanwhile, would rely on its traditional Muslim voters and those
in the pesantren (Islamic boarding schools).
In 1999, Hery correctly predicted the country's political
chaos. In October 1999, Abdurrahman Wahid defeated Megawati in
the presidential elections, although the PDI-P won biggest votes
in the election.
Celebrity psychics Ki Joko Bodo from Jakarta and Ki Joko
Pamungkas from Cianjur agreed with many of Hery's prophecies.
Both of them believed Susilo would be the strongest candidate
for president because of his charisma.
Ki Joko Bodo believed PAN chairman Amien Rais would have only
a slim chance of winning the presidential race because he seemed
too ambitious. Meanwhile, Megawati would be abandoned by her
supporters at the last minute, he said.
Ki Joko Bodo, however, said it was possible a new figure would
emerge after April 5.
Suhu, was more conservative, predicting the country would
still be led by a woman president.
Megawati and former president Soeharto's eldest
daughter Siti Hardijanti "Tutut" Rukmana are currently the only
two women contenders for the July 5 election.
However, Suhu refused to name who that woman would be. "I
can't tell you right now," he insisted.
Ki Joko Pamungkas warned the election would face many
obstacles due to the intentional disruptions of "certain
parties", who wanted the elections to be a failure.