News Focus: BIG PARTY LEADERS ASK CADRES TO WIN GENERAL ELECTION

By Bustanuddin.

Jakarta, March 21 (ANTARA)- Three big political party leaders,
Jusuf Kalla of Golkar Party, Megawati Soekarnoputri of PDI-P, and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, chairman of the Democratic Party (PD)'s advisory board, on the sixth day of legislative general election open campaigns asked each party cadres to win the polls.
On Saturday (March 21), the sixth day of a three-week open campaigns, Jusuf Kalla spoke in a campaign rally at Karebosi square, Makassar, Megawati in Graha Purba Buana, Patalan, Jetis, Bantul district, Yogyakarta special province, and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at Padang Galak Square in Denpasar, Bali.
Jusuf Kalla among other things told the party's cadres and supporters not to miss the opportunity to win the legislative general elections in April 9, 2009.
"This country has to be managed faster and better. Why does it have to be faster? because we don't want to miss the opportunity," Kalla said, adding that Golkar Party had long-experienced and the best cadres so they would be capable of performing well.
"When we talk about the progress of the nation, it must be supported by a strong political party, therefore, the Golkar Party must win," Kalla said before some 80,000 party cadres and sympathizers at a campaign rally at the Karebosi Square.
In addition, in his political oration during the party's campaign at Bumi Sriwijaya sport stadium in Palembang, South Sumatra on the same day, Jusuf Kalla again promised to make Indonesia a better country if his party won the upcoming legislative election.
Before thousands of cadres and sympathizers of the party, Jusuf Kalla said a strong political party was needed to build a better nation, and Golkar had a lot of experiences with best cadres to do so.
In Yogyakarta, Megawati Soekarnoputri, general chairwoman of the
Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDIP) urged the party's cadres and sympathizers to make all-out efforts to win the upcoming legislative elections but also expressed optimism the party would win the race.
The former president, said that the party's cadres must not give up and they should adhere to the party's ideology, so they had to carry out all the party's orders, especially to regain victory in the upcoming general elections.
"Although we lost in 2004, we as fighters should not give up," she said before thousands of people attending a PDIP campaign rally in the city.
Accompanied by the party's secretary general, Pramono Anung, and other noted party figures such as Tjahjo Kumolo, Theo Syafei and Idham Samawi, Mega expressed her confidence that the party would regain victory in due course of time.
"PDIP has conducted consolidation at all levels," she said, adding that PDIP was a solid party, so it should win the 2009 general elections.
Meanwhile Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, when leading a campaign rally of his party at Padang Galak Square promised that conditions in Bali would improve if Balinese supported his reelection as president by voting for PD in the upcoming legislative elections.
"Bali make greater progress and its security conditions become more conducive. Anyone wanting to disturb security in Bali must be fought," Yudhoyono said.
He said a good security situation nationally would help Indonesia's tourism to make greater progress, so in turn conditions in Bali as Indonesia's premier tourism asset would also improve.
He also asked the Balinese to listen to their conscience and use their common sense in viewing national condition at present so that they would not make a mistake in choosing a political party in the upcoming legislative polls.
"The Democratic Party has proven successful in bringing about progress in national life, including in Bali," Yudhoyono, who was accompanied by his wife Ani Yudhoyono and his son Edi Baskoro, said.
The founder of the Democratic Party asked the Balinese public to vote for the party which has brought good things for the future, and supported pro-people programs, and worked hard for the welfare of the people, including the Balinese.
"We will make Bali and Indonesia become safer and more peaceful, adjust and prosperous," he said.
On the occasion, Yudhoyono sang a song entitled "Berjuang Untuk Rakyat" or "Fight for the People" together with The Changcuters' singer, and another song entitled "Sempurna" or "Perfect" with Andra and The Back Bones's singer.
Previously, Bali provincial administration and private offices had decided to close from March 17 to 19 this year as the Balinese Hindhu adherents were commemorating the Galungan festivity.
Some political parties and legislative member candidates had even removed their posters and party flags to pay respect to the Galungan festivities, Nyepi (last week of Balinese calendar when no work is done) and the Kuningan day.
Chairman of the provincial general election commission (KPUD), Ketut Sukawati Lanang Perbawa, said earlier that the open campaign in the region would last until March 24, and from March 25 to 28 would become other holidays of the festivities of Nyepi and Kuningan days.
Indonesia will hold legislative general elections on April 9, 2009, to be participated in by 38 political parties and six local parties in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) province, prior to the second direct presidential election in July 8, 2009.
The three political party leaders (Jusuf Kalla, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono), have been nominated by their parties as presidential candidates.
***1***