"All the police officers must guard the counting of votes efficiently so that there are no violations or fraud," Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister, Djoko Suyanto has urged the National Police to closely oversee the counting of votes to eliminate any opportunities for cheating in the presidential elections.

"All the police officers must guard the counting of votes efficiently so that there are no violations or fraud," Djoko Suyanto stated here on Wednesday.

He confirmed that the supervision of ballots cast in the presidential elections started at the polling stations (TPS) at the subdistrict, district, and provincial levels until the ballots reached the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Djoko Suyanto praised the Bali police for intercepting a case of fraud at a polling station, when a TPS officer tried to insert ballot papers into the box while other officers were resting.

Therefore, he noted, anticipation and early prevention of potential violations is very important to secure the ballots after the elections.

"Do not grow careless. After the elections and during the counting of votes at polling booths is when we need to increase our vigilance," he affirmed.

The coordinating minister stressed that cooperation between the police and the military is essential for supervising the operations.

Meanwhile, engagement between the police and the ulemas as well as the community is necessary to urge people to remain orderly and peaceful during the counting of the votes," he said.

Djoko urged the campaign managers of both candidates to take responsibility for controlling their constituents and ensuring they take no action that would compromise security.

"This is a message from President SBY: Do not tolerate the slightest offense. We do not want a repeat of the grievous events of past elections," he asserted.

The election is being contested by the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa pair and the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla duo.

According to the KPU, a total of 190,307,134 voters have been registered (including 2,038,711 overseas voters) at 486,866 polling stations across the archipelago.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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