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)