They came to the conclusion that implementation of the 2019 election was far from expectations, as several frauds were found in the public.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party Secretary General Ahmad Muzani confirmed a meeting held between presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and ulemas and national figures, Tuesday night, for discussing wide-ranging issues pertaining to the 2019 general election.

"The meeting's attendees concurred that implementation of the 2019 election failed to match expectations in the face of several incidents of electoral fraud that had come to light," Muzani remarked after the conclusion of the meeting that convened at Prabowo's residence in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

The national figures and ulemas lamented the demise of polling station officers shouldering duties and tasks for the smooth implementation of the simultaneous presidential and legislative elections, he stated.

Muzani noted that though the national figures and clerics extended heart-felt condolences over the demise of polling station officers, the death toll figure of 100 did flabbergast them.

"This is indicative of the fact that the KPU (the General Elections Commission) failed to take precautionary measures while outlining the tasks of election officers owing to which so (many of) them died of overwork and exhaustion. Data shows several hundred yet being hospitalized," he pointed out.

Muzani revealed that the clerics and national figures had continued to accrue data and kept track of different types of electoral fraud by maintaining vote recapitulation forms C1.

"The figures have a long following, with scores hailing from East Java, Central Java, Madura and Sumatra," he noted.

At the meeting, Prabowo called on national figures and ulemas to espouse the sovereignty of the public in this democratic nation, he remarked.

He said the public had exercised its franchise by thronging polling stations on Apr 17, and that the people's sovereignty must be upheld.

"This is necessary as part of the endeavor to salvage the future of the nation and state. Nonetheless, every process must be carried out peacefully," he noted.

Indonesia organized simultaneous elections on April 17, 2019, for electing the president and members of the Regional Representative Council (DPD), House of Representatives (DPR), Provincial Legislative Council, and District/Municipal Legislative Council.

Translator: Imam Budilaksono, Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2019