Mega's neighbors reject her PDI-P

Mega's neighbors reject her PDI-P

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta/Yogyakarta

An old adage asserts "a prophet is not without honor except in
his hometown". But wise men also say, how can someone lead others
if he or she cannot even lead people around him or her.

This leads to the next question: Which statement applies to
President Megawati Soekarnoputri and House of Representatives
Speaker Akbar Tandjung in relation to their defeat at their own
polling stations?

Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
only came third at the 01 polling station of Gondangdia
subdistrict, Menteng, Central Jakarta, the place where she and
her family cast their votes.

In the final count on Monday evening, her former top security
minister Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party
(Partai Demokrat), won with 45 votes, followed by the Christian-
based Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) with 34 votes. While
Megawati's party only garnered 31 votes.

Susilo resigned from the Cabinet shortly before the
legislative election campaign began on March 11. He is perceived
as one of strongest contenders in the July 5 presidential
election.

"Maybe having a president as a neighbor is not perceived as
such a privilege for this neighborhood," said one of the
officials at the station.

Susilo's party won 186 votes at the polling station in Gunung
Putri, Bogor, near his residence. Megawati's party only got five
votes, and Golkar Party three.

Vice President Hamzah Haz was luckier than Megawati, at the
polling station where he voted in Palmeriam, East Jakarta. His
United Development Party (PPP) won with 125 votes.

Another leader who received support in his own neighborhood
was former president Soeharto, at the 02 polling station of
Gondangdia subdistrict, Menteng. His daughter Siti "Tutut"
Hardijanti Rukmana's Concern for the Nation's Functional Party
(PKPB) won with 59 votes.

PDI-P shamed Akbar, who is also Golkar's leader, at the
polling station on Jl. Widyacandra, South Jakarta. His party only
ranked fourth after PDI-P, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and
the Democratic Party.

Amien Rais' neighbors also wholeheartedly supported the PAN
leader in Yogyakarta. The party had a landslide victory at the
local polling station.