"While the quick count is ongoing and the result is usually correct, the public must await the official vote count by the KPUJayapura (ANTARA) - Papua Governor Lukas Enembe appealed to people to adopt a wait-and-watch policy regarding the official vote count of the presidential and legislative elections by the General Election Commission (KPU) and avoid claiming one another's victory.
"Even as the quick count is ongoing and the outcome is generally accurate, the people should wait for the official vote count results by the KPU," he stated in Jayapura on Thursday.
Regardless of the quick count outcome, the people must exercise patience until Apr 22 to see who is elected as the Indonesian president, he remarked.
"Do not make claims of a win in the quick vote count, else you will spread fake news that will ultimately trigger chaos. This should not be allowed to take place," he emphasized.
The governor made assurance that security agencies will tackle groups with malicious intent to hinder security and stability, especially after the April 17 presidential and legislative elections.
"We are thankful to God that the situation in Papua during the elections remained conducive despite numerous polling stations in mountain ranges and the provincial capital having to defer the ballot voting until today (April 18)," he remarked.
Incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), pairing with Ma'ruf Amin, contested against Prabowo Subianto in the presidential election.
A quick preliminary count suggests a victory for Jokowi in the presidential election.
The 2019 contest is akin to the contentious 2014 presidential election that had laid bare the country's divide, as Jokowi clashed against retired general Prabowo Subianto.
This year's count of eligible voters reaches 90,779,969.
Translator: Hendrina Dian Kandipi, Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
