Mega says PDI-P must work harder to win runoff

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) leader Megawati Soekarnoputri told her party's members to work harder to support her bid for president in the runoff on Sept.20.

Citing the fact that the Megawati-Hasyim Muzadi ticket only won in seven provinces in the election on July 5, Megawati urged party leaders to hit the streets and meet their constituents.

"Meet the people and work harder, if ibu greets the people at the markets and other public places, all party's members are expected to do the same," party secretary-general Soetjipto quoted Megawati at the party's national meeting on Saturday.

Megawati was chairing the party's national meeting at its headquarters in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, where executives of the party's provincial branches submitted their reports on the first round of the presidential election.

With over 26 percent of the vote won as of Saturday night, the Megawati is expected to enter the runoff against front runner Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of the Democratic Pary and his vice presidential candidate Jusuf Kalla. The final count will be announced on July 26.

PDI-P campaign team member Heri Akhmadi said that Megawati ended second in 13 provinces. Megawati and Hasyim also garnered fewer votes than those gained by PDI-P in the April 5 legislative election in 99 regencies.

Soetjipto also said that the party would focus on reaching out to the people and improving Megawati's public image, instead of announcing the names of the planned Cabinet members.

Asked about a possible coalition with other parties for the runoff, Soetjipto confirmed that Megawati had met with Muhammadiyah chairman Syafii Ma'arif, while other party's members had held meetings with Golkar Party members.

"We have also met with several members of the National Mandate Party (PAN), but these are still informal meetings," Heri said.

One of the party's branch executive from Southeast Sulawesi who declined to be named said that they were more confident in entering the runoff as they hardly believed Megawati would make it to the second round.

"We hope that executive board members can form a coalition with Golkar Party, with the expectation that they will support us in the runoff," the party member told The Jakarta Post.