PDI-P members doubt the success of Mega Center

PDI-P members doubt the success of Mega Center

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Cirebon

Skepticism is rife among Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI-P) members about the possibility of the planned Mega Center
to help party leader Megawati Soekarnoputri retain the
presidency.

Senior PDI-P member Kwik Kian Gie said on Thursday that under
the direct presidential election system, no political party would
have enough time to win over swing voters and secure a simple
majority of 51 percent.

"I know nothing about the Mega Center, I'm not part of it. But
how can you convince Indonesian people to vote for one figure in
such a short time?" queried Kwik, who is known for the critical
remarks he makes about his party.

Kwik, the incumbent state minister of national development
planning, asserted that such a center would not be much help in a
direct presidential election.

Skepticism is also evident in several other senior party
members, who said it was a mission impossible with the
presidential election scheduled for July 5.

"So far in the legislative election, we have only garnered
around 20 million votes. That would have to be increased to 80
million votes for July 5. Who could do that?" one senior party
member told The Jakarta Post.

"Maybe they should have hired a shaman who can put a spell on
voters to ensure our victory."

The PDI-P announced on Tuesday it would establish a campaign
team called the Mega Center to boost Megawati's chances of
retaining the presidency, which would atone for the party's
foreseeable defeat in the legislative election.

As of Thursday, with over 85 million out of a possible 147
million votes counted electronically for the April 5 legislative
election, the PDI-P was trailing behind former president
Soeharto's Golkar Party by more than one million votes.

In 1999 election, the PDI-P racked up 33.7 percent of the vote
to win the top spot, with Golkar coming second with 22.5 percent.

PDI-P deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo said the
center would consist of Cabinet ministers as well as party
members.

Another PDI-P figure, Jacob Nuwa Wea, said he was ready to
serve in the Mega Center. The manpower minister also expressed
confidence that his boss would win the presidency.

"There are many people who did not vote for the PDI-P but are
willing to vote for Megawati. I am ready to help Megawati secure
a victory," Nuwa Wea said.

All Cabinet ministers from the PDI-P are required to be
involved with the center, Nuwa Wea asserted.

Besides Nuwa Wea and Kwik, State Minister of State Enterprises
Laksamana Sukardi, Minister of Forestry Mohammad Prakosa and
Minister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno are
PDI-P representatives in Megawati's almost three-year-old
Cabinet.

Separately, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) leader Hidayat Nur
Wahid said he had prepared a team of lawyers to deal with the
defamation lawsuit that the PDI-P has threatened to file.

"We have appointed lawyers to represent us should the matter
be brought to court, We will abide by the legal process," Hidayat
said during a visit to Cirebon, West Java .

The PDI-P intends to sue Hidayat for a statement he made that
was printed in the April 12 edition of Tempo magazine, which
quoted him as saying that Megawati took sides with "wong licik"
(connivers) instead of the poor.

Hidayat underlined that criticism was democratic and should
not be consider as insulting.

The South Jakarta and Central Jakarta district courts
sentenced editors of Rakyat Merdeka daily to suspended prison
terms earlier this year for publishing stories deemed defamatory
toward Megawati.