Megawati receives support from PKB

Megawati receives support from PKB

JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri and her top aides met on
Monday with leaders of the National Awakening Party (PKB), and
emerged with the latter's firm support for her presidential bid.

PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil told a media conference after
the meeting that Megawati, whose Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) won the most votes in the June 7 polls,
had the right to lead the country.

PDI Perjuangan took 33.7 percent of the vote, with the ruling
Golkar party trailing in second place with 22.4 percent. PKB took
third place with 12.6 percent of the vote.

In a statement, PKB said the fact that PDI Perjuangan won the
elections "should be reflected on" during the General Session of
the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) when it picks the next
president in November.

Under the electoral system, the results of the general
election, which is to choose legislators, is not necessarily
reflected in the presidential election in the 700-member MPR.

PKB secretary-general Muhaimin Iskandar said the decision was
made to give the people political certainty. "The people have
been waiting for this certainty. The international world, too,
has been waiting for it," Muhaimin told detik.com on Tuesday.

Megawati and incumbent President B.J. Habibie, who is the
ruling Golkar's sole presidential candidate, are currently the
two main contenders for the nation's top slot.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Megawati criticized politicians for
putting their maneuvering ahead of stopping the violence raging
in Aceh and the Maluku capital of Ambon.

Addressing loyalists during an Independence Day flag-raising
ceremony in West Jakarta, Megawati also criticized the delay in
allotting legislative seats won by parties in the elections.

Noting the "suffering" of people in Ambon and Aceh, she
accused politicians of failing to show solidarity with the
populations in the stricken regions.

"The only thing they concentrate on is how to become
legislators," she said, adding that politicians were obsessed
with "how to divide forces instead of concentrating on how to
rebuild the country".

Megawati told reporters after the ceremony that she planned to
visit riot-torn Ambon as well as Aceh, where separatist violence
is on the rise.

"This is a priority of my work schedule as a party leader...
and the trips will most likely take place in the coming days,"
Megawati said. (05/byg/jun)