Megawati asks nation to use conscience in polls

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Nana Rukmana, Jakarta/Cirebon

President Megawati Soekarnoputri called on the nation to exercise its right to vote and choose its future leaders based on their trustworthiness, in order to ensure a strong government.

"You should use your conscience when making a choice, because people should elect leaders who can drive the country forward," Megawati said in her address on Sunday to 5,000 subdistrict chiefs across West Java at the Bogor presidential palace.

She asserted the country's future would be at stake in the upcoming presidential election, scheduled for July 5.

"Let anyone elected fulfill his or her five-year tenure, as it is very difficult to live up to people's expectations if you only serve half a term," she said.

Megawati was appointed president in 2001 after the People's Consultative Assembly dismissed Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, whom it had elected in 1999, for alleged incompetence.

The President is also contesting the country's first direct presidential election under the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) banner, having named Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi her running mate.

Megawati has taken advantage of official visits to meet voters before the month-long campaign period begins on Tuesday.

Earlier on Saturday, Megawati paid a courtesy call on Cirebon Sultan Maulana Pakuningrat XIII.

Megawati said she had been planning the visit for some time as part of government efforts to conserve the nation's cultural legacy.

In his response, the sultan prayed for Megawati's success in the election.

"We hope that God will bless Ibu in the coming election and will reward your visit," the sultan said.

Joining Megawati were Minister of Trade and Industry Rini Soewandi, West Java Governor Danny Setiawan, PDI-P deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung and political analyst Rizal Mallarangeng.

Around a couple of weeks before Megawati's trip, presidential candidate from the Democratic Party Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his running mate Jusuf Kalla met with the sultan and sought his blessing.

Shortly after the visit, Megawati also received support from leaders of 151 Muslim boarding schools across Cirebon regency.

"We pray for Ibu Mega so that she can continue leading the country until 2009," said Kurdi Mukhrodi, who represented the group. Previously, a number of NU clerics across West Java pledged support for the Mega-Hasyim pairing.