KPU Jakarta selects four for Senayan stadium campaign

Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta

Four of five presidential candidates will hold their outdoor campaign gathering at the main stadium of the Bung Karno Sports Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, next month.

Only Hamzah Haz and Agum Gumelar, candidates nominated by the United Development Party (PPP), will hold their outdoor gathering at the former Kemayoran airport ground in Central Jakarta. They were unable to book the stadium because it will be used by the national soccer team training for the World Cup.

The schedule was announced by the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) after meeting the campaign teams of the five presidential candidates on Friday.

The month-long campaign will kick off on June 1.

Each candidate is given the opportunity to hold an outdoor campaign gathering at the provincial level and five gatherings for party members only at the municipal/regental level.

All candidates will participate in a joint parade next Tuesday. They are scheduled to sign a plaque with "Ready to Win or Lose" etched on it. The plaque will be placed at the National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta.

Each candidate is permitted to enter 10 floats at the most.

KPUD chairman Muhamad Taufik said the parade would kick off from either Monas park or City Hall and pass through Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, Jl. M.H Thamrin, and Jl. Jend. Sudirman.

"Just like the legislative election campaign parade, the floats will stop at the Semanggi cloverleaf before leaving for their respective venues in the five municipalities," he said.

The KPUD has coordinated with the city police to arrange a security detail for each presidential/vice presidential candidate who joins the parade. The National Police are providing additional security for presidential and vice presidential candidates during the campaign period until the July 5 election and vote counting is completed.

Schedule of outdoor campaigns at provincial level

No. andidates Date of campaign Venue

1. Hamzah Haz-Agum Gumelar June 6 Former Kemayoran airport

2. Wiranto-Solahuddin Wahid June 13 Main Stadium of Bung Karno Sports Complex

3. Megawati Soekarnoputri-Hasyim Muzadi June 20 as above

4. Amien Rais-Siswono Yudhohusodo June 26 as above

5. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla June 27 as above

Notes: Limited party campaign gatherings at the municipal/regental level will mostly be held at sports stadiums or soccer fields.

Source: The Jakarta General Elections Commission