Many first-time voters undecided on candidates

A. Junaidi, Jakarta

At least 93 percent of Jakarta university students plan to vote in the presidential election, but about 25 percent of the first- time voters have yet to decide who they will vote for on Monday.

Among the reasons given by those who said they wouldn't vote for the incumbent, Megawati Soekarnoputri, was because "her husband is meddlesome (reseh)," referring to reports about Taufik Kiemas.

Magdalena S. Halim of Atmajaya University announced on Friday the results of a survey by the university, which indicated that 25 percent of the 995 respondents were undecided.

"They are confused because of too many candidates, too many promises, and unclear programs, as well as mudslinging," Magdalena said in a seminar on students' political aspiration.

The survey conducted between June 17 and June 25 showed that the percentage of students planning to vote had increased by 10 percent from the 83 percent reported by the university's last survey in May.

The respondents came from the University of Indonesia, Atmajaya University, the Jakarta State University, Trisakti University, Paramadina University and the National University.

Trisakti and Atmajaya are among the universities which lost students in shooting incidents in 1998 and 1999 when presidential candidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto was the military commander.

While Wiranto was favored by only 2.5 percent of respondents, most -- 28 percent -- said they preferred candidate Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"Susilo is the favorite followed by Amien Rais, Megawati, Wiranto and Hamzah Haz," Magdalena said. Amien scored 25.8 percent, Megawati 8.7 percent, and Hamzah 0.6 percent.

The military backgrounds of candidates was both a supporting and weakening factor, she said.

While the students who supported Susilo said he was a military figure with charisma, who was firm, nationalistic, and competent, others who did not support him said he was "too militaristic".

The students who favored Amien said he was smart, honest, brave, modest and experienced in politics, and had no links to the past regime; while non-supporters said Amien was inconsistent and too religious-minded.

Sociologist Francisia Ery Seda said the reasons given in support of candidates reflected the influence of campaigns.

"The students' reasons for supporting candidates are similar to those given in the ads. It shows that politics is a perception, especially created by the mass media, instead of a fact," she said.