Pro-Mega parties won't accept cabinet posts if she losses

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The coalition of major parties backing President Megawati Soekarnoputri's bid to retain power has vowed to serve as an opposition force, should she lose Monday's election runoff.

Golkar Party leader Akbar Tandjung said on Monday the four parties in the coalition would not join the cabinet of rival candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and running mate Jusuf Kalla if the pair won the election.

"This is a long term and permanent coalition. Should we lose the election, we will became an opposition force in the House of Representatives," said Akbar, who leads the pro-Megawati alliance.

The coalition, comprising Golkar, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), controls more than 60 percent of seats in the 550-strong House.

The Reform Star Party (PBR), the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB) and the Marhaenisme Indonesian National Party (PNI Marhaenisme) also supported Megawati's reelection bid.

Meanwhile, Susilo's Democratic Party and the Islam-oriented Prosperous Justice Party, with which it coalesced, won only 55 and 45 seats in the House respectively in the April 5 legislative election.

Support for Susilo also came from senior leaders of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Akbar made the statement as Susilo, who is Megawati's former chief security minister, took the lead in the preliminary vote tally on Monday evening.

However, Akbar was optimistic that the Megawati-Hasyim ticket would win the runoff with 55 percent of the vote. "I am sure we can get that much," he said.

Akbar and some other Golkar executives, PPP leader Hamzah Haz, PDS leader Ruyandi Hutasoit and PKPB leader R. Hartono visited Megawati at her private residence on Jl. Kebagusan after they cast their votes separately.

Megawati's current Cabinet ministers and relatives, as well a few PDI-P executives, also visited her house.

At home, Megawati looked calm and collected -- her smiling face showed no sign of stress, although the preliminary vote tabulation showed her defeat to Susilo.

"I am not tense at all. We are all waiting to see what the election results will be. I will not say anything as we cannot be sure yet," she said.

The President expressed gratitude to the people for their enthusiasm as the presidential election was completed.

"I also thank the coalition for its hard work -- and, of course, we have to remain vigilant for what is to come after the election," she added.

When asked what she would do should she lose the election, Megawati said: "I don't like to talk about something that has not happened yet. We will see later."