No Exodus Overseas Ahead of Elections, Coordinating Minister Says

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto leads a video conference of Final Preparedness Coordination Meeting of the 2019 General Elections Security at Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Jakarta, Monday (15/4). (Photo by: Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs’ PR)

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto dismissed a rumor saying that there would be chaos and riots during the upcoming general elections, which provoked an exodus of Indonesian citizens abroad.

“The weekly graph shows that there is no surge of Indonesian people going or coming from abroad,” the Minister said after leading a video conference of Final Preparedness Coordination Meeting of the 2019 General Elections Security at Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Jakarta, Monday (15/4).

According to him, there are a total of approximately 70 thousand Indonesian citizens who are going abroad and there are 74 thousand Indonesian citizens who return to the country. This means, the people are eager and enthusiastic to cast their votes in the election.

“The public does not need to be afraid and worried because the police, assisted by the TNI (Indonesian National Defense Forces), will guard the elections,” Wiranto said.

Furthermore, the Minister stated that the lack of electoral equipment due to unexpected things—such as flooding and due to the increase in polling stations—had been overcome by sending the intended equipment this morning.

On that occasion, he also asked the public not to immediately celebrate victory of presidential and vice-presidential candidate in a parade after the quick count is carried out. “It is better not to do this because it can spark a commotion,” he added.

Regarding the discrepancy ratio on the allocated time and the voters abroad that resulting dismissal of queuing voters, the Minister emphasized that even though the time is up but if there are still registered voters who are present, they will be given time to cast their vote. “So, it is not limited to 13:00 local time,” he said.

Also attending the meeting were Commander of the TNI Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Chief of the Indonesian National Police General Tito Karnavian, Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU) Arief Budiman, Chairman of the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Abhan, Chairman of the Election Organization Ethics Council (DKPP) Harjono, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara, the Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo, Chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Budi Gunawan, Chairman of the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) Djoko Setiadi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs A.M. Fachir, and representatives of related ministries and agencies. (Kemenko Polhukam/ES)

Translated by: Galuh Wicaksono
Edited by: Mia Medyana