PDI sells bike to fund campaign

BATAM, Riau: Cash-strapped and rift-ridden, the local Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) branch has sold its only working motorcycle to fund its campaign.

But party officials have not consulted the local government, which provided the motorcycle to make party members more mobile for election work.

"We have canceled several rallies because of the absence of funds," branch chief Anton Syed Denar was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday.

Anton said finance was the branch's biggest problem, not the threat of disruption by Megawati loyalists who have boycotted the campaign.

The Batam Election Supervision Committee has promised to provide the branch a megaphone and a stage. Anton said he should thank the committee for its mean offer. (pan)