Kalla outshines Susilo in popularity: Survey

Kalla outshines Susilo in popularity: Survey

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono may be leading the nationwide
fight against corruption but a survey reveals that more people
now perceive his deputy, Jusuf Kalla, plays an equal or more
important role in running the country.

Conducted by the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI), the poll
found that 47.3 percent of people viewed that Kalla played an
"equal or more pivotal role" in government than Susilo.

Only 40.9 percent believed that Susilo had the most active job
in government.

While Susilo is still judged positively by those surveyed, the
results are in contrast to an identical question asked the
previous year, which gave Susilo a clear lead over Kalla in the
performance stakes, with 49.8 percent of those surveyed putting
him above Kalla, who scored only 40.9 percent for the "equal or
more pivotal" question.

The surveyors believe Kalla's increased performance rating
likely came from his prominent role in the peaceful settlement of
the Aceh conflict, perceptions of his proactive approach to the
country's economic policies, his support base in the House of
Representatives through the Golkar Party he heads and his
leadership style.

During the survey conducted between Oct. 3 and Oct. 7, the LSI
interviewed a thousand respondents across the country's 33
provinces using a multistage random sampling method. The margin
of error was put at around 3.2 percent.

LSI had announced only part of the results of the survey on
Oct. 20, which showed Susilo's popularity had rating reached a
record low since he assumed power last year, although it was
still above 50 percent.

Perceptions of Kalla's role also increased in economic
affairs, with the Vice President's role -- of being in equal or
more in command of the country's economy rated at 56.2 percent,
compared to his boss' 33.8 percent.

The President, a retired Army general, has since the onset
entrusted economic issues to his deputy, who is formerly a
businessman.

Both had served in the previous administrations of Abdurrahman
Wahid and Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Most respondents said Susilo should play a bigger role in
government because Susilo was the most popular choice during the
presidential and vice presidential elections last year.

LSI executive director Denny J.A. said on Wednesday he was
surprised by the results of the poll.

He suggested that Susilo set a clearer division of labor
between him and his deputy and let Kalla stay in the background
for some issues.

The survey also discovered that 60 percent of respondents want
a Cabinet reshuffle due to perceptions of a worsening economy and
the presence of ministers who are deemed liabilities to Susilo's
administration.

Denny said the reshuffle should take place before 2006, with
attention paid to the economic team.

"Because the public consider the economy the most important
sector, the ministerial posts should be given to those who are
capable and free from conflict of interests," he said.