With over half the votes counted in Indonesia?s parliamentary election, the former party of ex-dictator Suharto held a razor-thin lead on Sunday over President Megawati Sukarnoputri?s party.

Vote counting has been underway since Monday when the world?s fourth-most populous nation held its legislative election, setting the stage for a July 5 presidential ballot.

The latest figure showed that votes cast by almost 74 million people, or more than 50 percent of the eligible electorate of 147 million, had been counted. Final results could take days more.

Megawati?s Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) had 20.34 per cent of the counted votes while Golkar had 20.42 per cent. In the last election in 1999, PDI-P garnered 34 per cent and Golkar 23 per cent.

None of the officials from Golkar and PDI-P were available for immediate comment.

PDI-P?s lacklustre performance this year is in line with polls showing many voters feel Megawati?s government has failed to live up to promises to fight graft and improve people?s lives although she has been credited for bringing stability back to this multi-ethnic country.

In third place was the National Awakening Party, led by former president Abdurrahaman Wahid, at 12.81 per cent. The other 21 parties were all at single-digit levels.

Suharto, who resigned in disgrace in 1998 amid social unrest and protests against his 32-year tenure, has moved to a party set up by his eldest daughter, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana.

Rukmana?s Duty and Concern Party was outside the top ten, at 2.12 per cent, according to the latest tally.