Mega says PDI-P must work harder to win runoff

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.