Kwik doubts PDI-P can meet election target

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Senior Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) legislator Kwik Kian Gie expressed pessimism on Monday that the party would fulfill its target of garnering 42 percent of the vote in the 2004 elections.

Citing the increasing level of disappointment among its supporters, Kwik said that it would be difficult for the party to even repeat its 1999 success.

"For me the 42 percent target is just too high. I have received much input and many constituents have been disappointed by the party," Kwik said on Monday.

The party won the 1999 election with 35 percent of the total vote.

Party secretary general Soetjipto had earlier set a target of 42 percent of the vote, citing stronger support for the party's presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri, the incumbent president.

As former chairman of the party's defunct-internal research agency, Kwik, who has labeled his own party the most corrupt, said a field survey conducted by his office had shown that the public was disappointed with Megawati's administration.

The survey, conducted in the party's former strongholds of East Java, Central Java and Bali, revealed that only 20 percent of the respondents would vote for Megawati in 2004.

Other surveys conducted by independent agencies, however, suggest that while Megawati's support base has shrunk rapidly, she remained the strongest presidential candidate ahead of 2004, when the country is scheduled to hold its first ever direct presidential election.

Megawati's decreasing popularity was mainly due to her failure to pursue much needed reforms, especially the drive against the rampant corruption that had pushed the country to the brink of bankruptcy.

"The team of Soetjipto said that based on observations in several regencies across the country, the party still enjoys strong support from its constituents. I do not believe that," Kwik insisted Monday.

In a bid to woo more voters in 2004, PDI Perjuangan, which is led by Megawati, had recruited actors for inclusion on its list of legislative candidates.

Noted movie stars Marissa Haque, Desy Ratnasari, Deddy Sutomo and Franky Sahilatua have confirmed their readiness to contest the elections.

Another noted actress, Sophia Latjuba, has also been asked to join the party, but sources said she had refused the offer but would campaign for the party.

The party will hold a national meeting here on Tuesday (today) to finalize its list of candidates.

All 30 chapters of the party will attend the meeting, which is slated to be opened by Megawati.