Polls give B.J. Habibie the thumbs down

JAKARTA (JP): If the results of four recent polls are of any indication of people's view of President B.J. Habibie's three- month-old presidency, the conclusion so far is that Indonesians have not fully accepted him as the country's chief executive.

The polls were held by different institutions: Kontan business weekly in cooperation with the Research Productivity Center (RPC); the research and development department of Megawati Soekarnoputri's wing of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI); the University of Indonesia in cooperation with Soegeng Sarjadi Syndicated; and private television station Rajawali Citra Televisi Indonesia (RCTI).

Some of the poll respondents argued Habibie should be given time and that many of his policies were acceptable. Those who disapproved of the president believed he had been tainted from collusive, corrupt or nepotistic practices -- all key public complaints leading to the fall of former president Soeharto in May.

Some polled pointed to Habibie's failure to endorse clear-cut economic and political measures to bring the country out of its economic crisis.

When asked to name an alternative leader, most named either Megawati Soekarnoputri or Amien Rais, chairman of the newly established National Mandate Party (PAN).

The following are excerpts from the poll results:

* Kontan and RPC: Published in Kontan's Aug. 28 edition, the poll resulted in 82.5 percent of 500 respondents living in Jakarta and Bandung saying that Habibie's administration had "not done its job" so far. Many of the respondents gave more than one reason for the low marks.

Ninety-eight reasoned that Habibie had failed to restore political stability. Of the 240 giving economic reasons behind their displeasure with the government, almost all of them complained of soaring prices and high unemployment.

But 71, or 14.3 percent, said the country should "give him a chance".

When asked to name their most preferred leader, 34.8 percent of the respondents picked Megawati. Amien garnered 17.9 percent, while Habibie was named by 9.4 percent. Ninety-eight, or 19.7 percent, refused to pick any of the names listed as options, which included Yogyakarta's traditional monarch Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.

Many who chose Megawati said they did so with some reservations, though 57 percent believed she had wisdom, charisma and a broad perspective when provided with criteria on what made a good leader.

The poll's respondents, aged between 19 and 60, were mostly private employees (46.8 percent), followed by civil servants (14.6 percent). Others were students, housewives, retired officers and private entrepreneurs. Six percent were unemployed.

* The research and development department of Megawati's PDI: This poll simply raised one question: "Who would you most prefer as the country's president?" The question also gave five criteria, including "much loved by the public". The questionnaire was published as an advertisement in eight newspapers, including Kompas.

Of the 21,582 people who responded, 15,046 or 69.7 percent named Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Amien Rais was ranked second, being named by 2,709, or 12.5 percent, of the respondents. Former vice president Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno came in third with 1,503 respondents, while government critic Emil Salim was fourth with 545. President Habibie was fifth with 363 respondents.

* The University of Indonesia and Soegeng Sarjadi Syndicated: This poll by the university's Political Science Laboratory of its School of Political and Social Sciences was held from July 13 to July 16. It collected responses from 1,000 people in Greater Jakarta area by telephone.

Although most gave a thumb down to Habibie's performance so far, almost half, or 46.2 percent, of the respondents found his policies "acceptable".

Of those who rejected his leadership, 48 percent said it was due to "collusion, corruption and nepotism like Soeharto's."

Habibie's previous record and his policies favoring costly technology projects while serving as state minister of research and technology for two decades turned out to stick in people's minds as another contributing factor in their rejection of him.

Amien Rais was chosen as the most preferred presidential candidate by 12.8 percent of the respondents. Megawati came in second with 11.3 percent. Habibie, picked by 8.2 percent, still won over Try Sutrisno (5.2 percent) and Emil Salim (3 percent).

The poll raised three basic topics: Habibie's leadership, the most suitable presidential candidate and the flight of Chinese- Indonesians in the wake of the May riots.

Respondents were equally divided in gender, with about three- quarters of them aged between 17 and 45. Their widely ranging backgrounds ranged from entrepreneurs, employees and civil servants to housewives and students. Almost 90 percent claimed to be indigenous Indonesians.

* RCTI: The poll, conducted over the telephone, asked: "Who is the most capable of uniting the country?" Viewers were given from Aug. 10 to Aug. 17 to respond, with results announced each day.

The results have yet to be published outside of the station's daily announcements.

The poll on Aug. 17 gained the largest number of respondents, with 35.8 percent of the 7,523 people calling in naming Megawati.

Amien came in second with 31.4 percent naming him, while Habibie was third (11.3 percent) and Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto fourth (7.7 percent). Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Moslem organization and popularly known as Gus Dur, came fifth with 3.5 percent.

When asked whether people were optimistic about Habibie so far, 34 percent said they were upbeat, while 61 percent said they were pessimistic. Five percent did not answer the question.

RCTI conducted the poll as part of its ninth anniversary celebration on Aug. 18. (ste/aly)