Susilo unperturbed with Megawati's political maneuvers

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Semarang

While running mates Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Yusuf Kalla are sticking to their principle that they will seek a coalition partner only after they win the Sept. 20 runoff, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Hasyim Muzadi are actively canvassing for support from within and outside their power base to enable them to beat their rival.

Jusuf Kalla, Megawati's former people's welfare minister, said that his camp was not worried about the maneuvers of political leaders to form coalitions. He asserted that meetings with voters at the grassroots was of more strategic value than talking to politicians who claim that they have a huge support base behind them.

Kalla said he doubted that Golkar supporters could all be instructed to vote for Megawati.

"We are not concerned about it, because a coalition among parties will not be able to bring 100 percent of their supporters," Jusuf told the press after his meeting with a group of businessmen at Wisma Anugerah in South Jakarta on Tuesday.

Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung however refuted Jusuf's assumption, saying said that his party had a powerful network throughout the country, that could be used to help win the presidency.

He said that Golkar gained 24.4 million votes in the April 5 legislative election and Golkar's presidential candidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto garnered around 23 million votes in the July 5 presidential election.

"It clearly shows that our political machine works," said Akbar, who was defeated by Wiranto during the party's convention before the July election.

Meanwhile, the incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri skipped her weekly meeting with the leaders of her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), to receive several politicians at her private residence in Kebagusan, South Jakarta.

She received the Reform Star Party (PBR) chairman Zainuddin M.Z., who supported Amien Rais and Siswono Yudohusodo in the July 5 election. The latter, who won the fourth largest number of votes in the election, has been practically eliminated from the race.

"If we wish to uphold civil supremacy we'll go with Ibu Mega, but if we want change, although we do not know what kind of change, then Susilo," the noted Muslim preacher said after the meeting.

When asked about the presence of the Christian-based Peace Prosperous Party (PDS) in Megawati's team, Zaenuddin said: "Religion should not influence state affairs."

PDS executives also visited the President on Tuesday.

On the same day, Megawati's running mate Hasyim Muzadi also held a series of meetings with several leaders of major organizations and the media in Semarang, Central Java.

He visited the provincial offices of PDI-P, the United Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB), the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and the head office of Suara Merdeka daily.

"This is not about (forming) a coalition, that is for ibu Mega to decide, my job is to deal with voters," Hasyim, who is currently nonactive in his capacity as Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman.

Meanwhile, political expert Andi A. Mallarangeng and pollster Muhammad Qodari said on Tuesday coalitions among the political elite would not influence voting in the second round of the presidential election.

"The masses no longer relate to the political elite. People will make their own choices in the election," Andi told reporters before the launching of a book titled Opinion Survey and Elections in Indonesia.

Qodari, a director of the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), said voters would learn more about their candidates from the mass media, especially from television, than by listening to the political elite.