PDI's survey says Megawati favored as the next president

JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri tops the list by a big margin in a nationwide survey asking people about who they would like to be president.

The survey, organized by the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)'s camp loyal to Megawati, was advertised in various local newspapers last week.

A total of 545 people had responded by Tuesday, answering a simple question, "Who do you want to be the president?"

Kwik Kian Gie, head of PDI's Research and Development Department, said 393 respondents voted for Megawati.

Former vice president Try Sutrisno followed with 56, while Amien Rais, the chairman of Muhammadiyah who was most vocal in the campaign to bring president Soeharto's resignation, tallied 47 votes.

President B.J. Habibie and Yogyakarta's king Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X followed next with 10 votes each.

Four respondents voted for former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin, while Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto and politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas received three votes each.

Megawati's brother Guntur Soekarnoputra, former Armed Forces Chief Gen. (ret) M. Yusuf, Jakarta Military Chief Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Kwik Kian Gie each won two votes.

Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, Armed Forces Chief for Socio-political Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and jailed chairman of the outlawed Democratic People's Party (PRD) Budiman Sudjatmiko were among 11 public figures who received one vote each.

The survey laid out five criteria for the presidential candidate: must be adored by the people; free from corruption, collusion and nepotism; a commitment to serve the people; proven statesmanship; of strong personality, integrity and credibility.

Kwik said the survey was still continuing.

People who want to join in can write to his office at Jl. Taman Tanah Abang III No. 31 or send a facsimile to (021) 3809705. (aan)