Megawati-led PDI gets the people's nod
Megawati-led PDI gets the people's nod
JAKARTA (JP): A recent survey on which party people will vote
for shows that a majority of people have yet to make up their
minds.
However, those who have decided tend to support the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI) led by Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The survey, conducted by the Political Science Lab of the
University of Indonesia in association with Soegeng Sarjadi
Syndicated, found that nearly 60 percent of the 4,925 respondents
either did not know or refused to answer when queried about their
choice of party if an election was to be held now.
But 40 percent who did reply said they would vote for the
Megawati-led PDI.
Golkar came in a distant second with 12.9 percent, while a
future party formed by critic Amien Rais came third with 10.8
percent.
The United Development Party remains a feature with 8.5
percent while the newly formed People's Awakening Party (PKB)
established by leading Nadlatul Ulama figures received 1.5
percent.
Of interest is that, according to the survey, the much
maligned Soerjadi camp of the PDI actually received a higher
percentage, 0.8 percent, of support from respondents than the
Indonesian Democratic Union Party (PUDI) led by the high profile
Sri Bintang Pamungkas.
The poll, results of which were made public here Saturday,
randomly took respondents from Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya,
Banda Aceh, Medan, Kupang, Pontianak, Ujungpandang and Denpasar.
However, 52 percent of the respondents live in Jakarta.
A 10th city, Manado, was also surveyed but the results could
not be processed due to transportation problems.
The respondents came from a mixture of occupations and
backgrounds with three-fourths aged between 17 and 45.
Respondents were asked three topical questions -- the party
system, political inclinations and the future of Golkar.
On the first topic respondents were asked: how many parties
should contest the election, is the assembling of crowds still
necessary and whether they agreed that religion based parties
were no longer necessary.
On the first question 58.1 percent chose the highest
selection, four to 10 parties, while 31.2 percent said three
parties.
An overwhelming majority, 58.4 percent, also said that
assembling crowds were necessary to show support for parties.
The poll also showed that 70.1 percent felt that religion
based parties were no longer appropriate.
On the second topic, 52.7 percent said their choice of party
would be based on its programs. The importance of the party
leader or ideology received 17.4 and 10.6 percent respectively.
Another question on this topic was which party they would
select if elections were held today.
The third topic on Golkar simply asked whether Golkar was
capable of winning the next election.
The response was a resounding "No" from 33.1 percent of
respondents.
Some 2 percent said it was "very possible" while another 18.9
percent still believe Golkar "might" win.
Reaction
In a written summation of its findings, the survey warns of
potentially large pockets of nonvoters. It points out that 51.9
percent of respondents claim they do not intend to vote in coming
elections.
Other cities with a large number of potential nonvoters are
Surabaya (27.1 percent) and Denpasar (8.4 percent).
Noted Indonesianist Harold Crouch of the National University
in Australia, commenting on the results of the poll said it
mainly reflected the opinion of the middle class in urban areas.
He pointed out that the People's Awakening Party would likely
get a higher response outside urban areas since its base support,
Nahdlatul Ulama members, reside in rural areas.
"I think it would come out different if the poll was in Java's
rural areas," he remarked.
Political scientist Maswadi Rauf of the University of
Indonesia, said one interesting result for him was the
disapproval, 70.1 percent, of religion based parties.
"It is interesting to see that 52 percent of respondents would
choose their political parties, not based on traditional or
polarizing reasons as was the case in the past, but because of
its programs," he remarked.
Soegeng, a former Golkar legislator who switched allegiance to
the Soerjadi-led PDI who sponsored the poll, said it was carried
out to examine public reaction to the appearance of new political
parties.
He pledged to conduct another poll with a wider range of
respondents to observe the political climate before the planned
special session of People's Consultative Assembly in November.
Last month, the first poll he sponsored was carried out to
survey people's opinion of Habibie's three-month government. It
showed that Habibie's policies failed to win over the hearts of
the people. (rms)