Democracy...Their Way

Susilo Bambang Takes Lead In Presidential Polls

From Openg Onn

JAKARTA, July 6 (Bernama) -- Popular ex-military general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is maintaining his lead to become President of Indonesia as counting continues following Monday's polling in the landmark direct presidential election.

Bambang, who contested under the Democratic Party took the lead soon as the National Tabulation Centre, set up at a local hotel here, received the first results from counting centres all over the country at 6pm. (7pm Malaysian Standard Time), Monday.

By midday Tuesday, (1 pm Malaysian Standard Time), he and his running mate Yusuf Kalla had garnered 5,244,492 votes or 33.31 percent of the votes counted so far with incumbent President Megawati Sukarnoputri and her duet Hasyim Muzadi, in second spot with 4,163,090 votes (26.44 percent).

Another former general and ex-military chief, Wiranto, of Golkar Party, and his running mate Solahuddin Wahid, are close behind with 3,655,704 votes (23.20 percent).

A popular reform figure, Amien Rais, leader of the National Mandate Party and his partner Siswono Yudhohusodo, came in fourth, with 2,585,190 votes (13.71 percent).

Vice President Hamzah Haz, head of the United Development Party pairing with another ex-general Agum Gumelar, are in last spot with a dismal 526,322 votes or just 3.34 per cent.

Bambang's popularity conforms a survey last week which gave him a 43.5 percent support, more than that of his four rivals combined.

But he needs more than 50 per cent of the vote to avoid a runoff between the top two candidates, scheduled for Sept 20.

While counting in most of the centres had been completed, the Election Commission (KPU) is struggling to hold balloting at dozens of centres which had to be delayed due to bad weather and increased volcanic activity.

Polling in two island villages in West Sumatra and eight in North Sumatra, had to be postponed when ballot papers and other election materials failed to reach their polling centers because of rough seas.

KPU chairman Nazaruddin Syamsuddin could not say when voting in those villages would be carried out as it depended on the weather.

In East Nusa Tenggara, polling had to be deferred indefinitely in two villages near Mount Egon, when hundreds of voters were forced to flee their homes after increased volcanic activity.

Saya cukup cemburu dengan Indonesia.Amalan demokrasi jelas semakin subur dibumi garuda ini.Memang benar,pendokong anti-reformasi di bumi malaya sering menempik.."Apa guna reformasi diMalaya kalau bumi ini kacau-bilau,ekonomi carca merba dan politiknya huruhara"..itu memang benar.Tapi bagi saya itulah dinamakan pergorbanan yang mesti dibayar untuk memastikan demokrasi itu terus hidup.
Lihat saja Indonesia, untuk seketika(terutama selepas Suharto tumbang),politik dan negaranya huruhara.
Sewaktu PEMILU pasca reformasi,bermacam-macam keganasan timbul hinggakan presidennya bersilih ganti tapi lihatlah setelah hampir 7 tahun selepas era reformasi, PEMILU kali ini jelas meriah sekali.Tiada lagi keganasan atau ketegangan.Malah kempen-kempen politiknya siap dengan ada dangdut sekali...boleh jadi tak manis tapi menyeronokkan. Pemilihan Presidennya jelas memberi peluang kepada marhaennya memilih yg terbaik(banyak pilihan pulak tu).Saya percaya, give them 20 more years and they will beat Malaya economically and politically.