We have to carry it out peacefully, smoothly, and successfully,
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto has made assurance of security during the simultaneous legislative and presidential elections held across Indonesia's 34 provinces on April 17, 2019.

"We have to hold the process in a peaceful, smooth, and successful manner," Wiranto, the Indonesian Defense Forces' (TNI's) ex-commander, remarked while chairing a meeting held to discuss final preparations for security arrangements during the voting day, here, Monday.

The minister believes that those planning to cast their ballot must be guaranteed protection on Wednesday.

Those eligible for voting should have free and safe access to polling stations, he emphasized.

Those tasked with executing the election should be able to optimally fulfill their tasks across polling stations in Indonesia.

"This is also applicable for preparations for the results of vote counting," he stated.

A election is deemed successful when it can produce top leadership across all levels to take the country forward to realize a brighter future in the coming five years, he reiterated.

Wiranto believes peaceful elections can assist in holding the elections smoothly and ultimately be contributing to their successful outcomes.

The minister has appealed to all election stakeholders to ascertain that the election process is implemented in a peaceful, smooth, and successful manner.

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 held at Wiranto's office.

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: Astrid, M Arief, Fardah
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019