Today, we hold a comprehensive coordinating meeting at the central and regional levels. We are grateful that we are fast approaching the voting day when millions of Indonesians will simultaneously cast their ballot or exercise their voting rightsJakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto officiated at a meeting held for discussing final preparations for security arrangements pertaining to the simultaneous legislative and presidential election scheduled on April 17, 2019.
Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto; National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian; General Election Commission (KPU) Chairman Arief Budiman; Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) Chairman Abhan; National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Head Budi Gunawan; Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force, Army, and Navy; Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo; and Communication and Informatics Minister Rudiantara, were some of the attendees at the meeting organized at Wiranto's office, Monday.
Regional legal enforcement staff and those in charge of executing the elections in several regions were able to participate in the meeting through the video conferencing facility.
"Today, we hold a comprehensive coordinating meeting at the central and regional levels. We are grateful that we are fast approaching the voting day when millions of Indonesians will simultaneously cast their ballot or exercise their voting rights," Wiranto affirmed.
The minister further expressed gratitude that the election process' campaign events were held in a peaceful and smooth manner.
Ex-commander of the TNI was appreciative of the efforts of the Police, TNI, KPU, Bawaslu, and the people, at large, to maintain peace during the campaigning period.
All public elements, comprising political party chiefs, presidential and legislative candidates, and volunteers, had laid the highest priority on unifying the nation, he asserted.
The 2019 race will be a re-play of the contentious 2014 presidential election that exposed the nation's divide, as Joko Widodo (Jokowi) faced retired general Prabowo Subianto. Incumbent Jokowi has picked well-known cleric Ma'ruf Amin as his running mate, while Subianto has paired with successful, young businessman Sandiaga Uno.
The KPU made a recent announcement that eligible voters on the Officially Voters' List (DPT) totaled 192,866,254 people, comprising 190,779,969 across Indonesia and 2,086,285 Indonesians overseas.
KPU Chairman Arief Budiman stated on April 8, 2019, that the commission had set up 809,699 polling stations across 34 Indonesian provinces.
Translator: Syaiful Hakim, Fardah
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
