JAKARTA - INDONESIAN President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his political rival, Megawati Sukarnoputri, are likely to be locked in a tight election race next year, a new poll showed on Thursday.

The survey, by Jakarta-based Taylor Nelson Sofres, showed 28 per cent would vote for former President Megawati while 27 per cent favoured Mr Yudhoyono, a former general who won the country's first direct presidential election in 2004.

Mr Yudhoyono came to power with the promising to tackle corruption, spur economic growth and create jobs. But his government has struggled to deliver on some pledges and his popularity fell, especially after he hiked fuel prices in May.

In June, a survey by another pollster, Indo Barometer, showed only 20.7 per cent of respondents would vote for Mr Yudhoyono, while 30.4 per cent would vote for Mdm Megawati, a leading opposition figure in the dying days of former president Suharto's regime.

Indonesia, Southeast Asia's biggest economy, is due to hold a general election on April 9 followed a few months later by a presidential election.

Mr Yudhoyono has not said if he will stand for election next year but is widely expected to do so. Mdm Megawati plans to stand in the 2009 presidential election.

For the latest poll, Taylor Nelson Sofres teamed up with the National Leadership Center, a private institute founded by a former military spokesman Graito Usodo. The nation-wide survey with 2,000 respondents was conducted between July 18-29.

'Looking at the polling result, it's going to be a tight race between SBY and Megawati,' said Taufik Bahaudin, director of the National Leadership Center, referring to Mr Yudhoyono's popular initials.

The fuel price hike in May due to ballooning subsidies on the back of soaring global oil prices sparked protests in the country where millions are already suffering from rising food prices. -- REUTERS