First time voters seek change to status quo

First time voters seek change to status quo

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A recent survey reveals that although many respondents trust the
current presidential candidates, most of them prefer other
candidates to lead the nation for the next five years.

Of the 2,000 respondents, 73 percent prefer someone other than
the current list of candidates to lead the country while 27
percent accept political parties' presidential candidates or
politicians who have announced they would run for the presidency.
according to the survey by the Student Polling Center.

The above candidates include the incumbent Megawati
Soekarnoputri, Akbar Tandjung, Gen. (ret) Wiranto, Hamzah Haz,
Amien Rais, Nurcholish Madjid and Soeharto's daughter, Siti
Hardiyanti Rukmana.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is the most preferred candidate, with 28
percent of respondents naming him.

Susilo is followed by rights activist Salahuddin Wahid (14
percent), chairman of Muhammadiyah Ahmad Syafii Maarif (10
percent), lecturer and daughter of the first vice president,
Meuthia Farida Hatta (9 percent), chairman of the largest Muslim
organization Nahdlatul Ulama, Hasyim Muzadi (8 percent) and
former minister Siswono Yudhohusodo (7 percent).

Former president B.J. Habibie is also among the "alternative
figures," with 5 percent.

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra and
Muslim preacher Abdullah Gymnastiar got 5 percent and 4 percent
respectively.

Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Hidayat Nurwahid who
topped the list in some surveys via short messaging services
(SMS) on cellular phones only got 3 percent.

Polling coordinator Saifuddin Anshori said 2,000 students
participated from eight cities throughout the country.

Saifuddin said that his institution targeted students because
this year would be their first chance to vote.

"Many surveys have been made but the organizers often neglect
the rookie voters. We want to know their preferences," he said
during a press briefing on Wednesday.

The survey conducted in December targeted students in Manado
(North Sulawesi), Bandung (West Java), Yogyakarta, Surabaya (East
Java), Medan (North Sumatra), Pontianak (West Kalimantan), Ambon
(Maluku) and Jakarta.

The organizers distributed questionnaires and met face to face
with the students.

The survey also reveals that the students are really looking
forward to the direct presidential elections -- the first to be
held in Indonesia.

Most respondents (41 percent) said they would cast their vote
for the presidential elections. Nineteen percent said they were
most interested to cast ballot for the regency legislative
council, 17 percent for House of Representatives (DPR), 12
percent for the provincial legislative council, and 11 percent
for Regional Representatives Council (DPD).