Foreign Ministry Checks Election Preparation at Embassies, Consulate Generals

Participants of Public Relations Forum of Ministry of Foreign Affairs take group photo at office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, Thursday (4/4). (Photo: Nisa/PR)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs has checked readiness of a number of Indonesian embassies and consulates abroad ahead of legislative and presidential elections this month.

“There are 130 Overseas Election Committee (PPLN) located in 96 countries,” said Wajid Fauzi, Special Advisor to Foreign Minister on Management during Public Relations Forum in Jakarta, Thursday (4/4).

According to Wajid, Indonesian citizens abroad can cast their vote in three ways, namely by coming to the polling stations on 8-14 April 2019, through the PPLN officers who will come to the voters’ offices, residences, or places where they usually gather, and through airmail for those who are unable to cast vote at polling stations. Wajid also reported 10 PPLNs with the biggest number of voters, among others:

1. Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur: 558.873 voters;
2. Indonesian Economic and Trade Office to Taipei: 277.065 voters;
3. Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong: 180,232 voters;
4. Indonesian Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu: 140,878 voters;
5. Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching: 138,952 voters;
6. Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru: 133,253;
7. Indonesian Embassy in Singapore: 125,403;
8. Indonesian Consulate Tawau: 71,990;
9. Indonesian Consulate General in Penang: 60,610;
10. Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh: 34,971.

In the meantime, Commissioner of the General Election Committee (KPU) Pramono Ubaid Tanthowi who attended the event explained that according to Law Number 7 of 2017 on General Election, the organization of elections abroad is carried out by Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the KPU. (AIT/HEN/EN)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas