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.