'I'm pretty enough for TV': Megawati

'I'm pretty enough for TV': Megawati

JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), says she longs for the day when she can appear more regularly on television as does Harmoko, chairman of the ruling Golkar.

"I envy Pak Harmoko. I feel that I'm pretty enough to appear on television," Megawati was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying yesterday.

State-controlled TVRI has been broadcasting Harmoko's every move almost nightly as he stomps across the nation to meet with cadres. Harmoko's other official capacity as minister of information has him wielding control over TVRI.

PDI and the other minority party, the United Development Party, have complained in the past about the lack of coverage given by TVRI to their own activities compared to that given to Golkar.

"If I could have just one day (on television), with the rest of the week allotted to Harmoko, I'd be content," Megawati said during a meeting with party supporters in Serang, West Java, yesterday.

"But we're not going to beg," she said, adding that she hoped her remarks would reach Harmoko, according to Antara.

Megawati said many PDI supporters have been questioning her about her rare appearance on television and some of them have even stated that they "missed" her a lot. "They long to see my face on television or in newspapers."

The PDI chief has been traveling across various regencies in West Java to install leaders of the PDI branches.

Television is likely to become the chief medium for party leaders to communicate with their supporters in the next general election in 1997.

Golkar is currently pushing for a ban on all political rallies at the upcoming election, and limiting the campaign to indoor discussions or television advertising. (emb)