• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
No Result
View All Result
1
Home World

Indonesia election fraud allegations are “baseless” – security minister

24 April 2019, 1:39 PM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
Joko Widodo

Indonesia's incumbent presidential candidate Joko Widodo gestures as he speaks during a campaign rally at Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 13, 2019.

Joko Widodo

Image: Reuters

Indonesia's incumbent presidential candidate Joko Widodo gestures as he speaks during a campaign rally at Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 13, 2019.

Indonesia’s chief security minister said on Wednesday accusations that the government and security forces conspired with election agencies to conduct systematic fraud during last week’s polls are “baseless” and threatened national security.

President Joko Widodo declared victory after unofficial results from private pollsters gave him about 55% of the popular vote.

His challenger, former general Prabowo Subianto, has complained of widespread cheating and insists he won.

The “quick count” of vote samples by reputable pollsters has been accurate in previous elections, though the official result will not be announced until May 22.

In 2014, Prabowo had also claimed victory on election day, before contesting the results at the Constitutional Court, which confirmed Widodo’s win.

This year Prabowo’s campaign has said it found discrepancies in the voter list and alleged fraud in areas like East Java, claiming officials punched ballots in favor of Widodo.

Social media has also been awash with conspiracy theories.

“The accusations are tendentious and inconsequential, as well as slanderous, incorrect and baseless. They are directed at delegitimising the government and election organizers,” Chief Security Minister Wiranto said at a news conference.

The election commission and election supervisory agency were independent bodies with commissioners who were voted into their positions by parliament, he said.

“With this explanation, I hope that the people do not believe misleading news, or moreover are provoked to carry out activities that could disrupt peace and national security,” Wiranto said.

The 2019 vote, which was the biggest single-day election in the world, had been conducted peacefully and in a transparent manner, with many parties monitoring the process including foreign observers, he said.

Wiranto paid tribute to the election officials and security personnel on duty during last Wednesday’s ballot, adding that 139 election staff had died of exhaustion while organizing the votes.

The Herculean challenge of holding simultaneous presidential and parliamentary votes this year has triggered calls for the polls to be held at different times and to use more technology.

According to the election commission’s website, Widodo on Wednesday afternoon had 55.74% of the vote and Prabowo 44.26%, based on votes tallied at 236,975 polling stations out of 813,350 across Indonesia.

Political analysts have said the size of Widodo’s lead undermined the opposition’s charge that the election was stolen, but they added that Islamist supporters of Prabowo could still hit the streets to dispute the results.

Prabowo’s campaign has said it could rely on “people power” if its complaints were not addressed. Media reports have said thousands of extra police have been deployed in the capital Jakarta to ensure security.

National Police Spokesman Dedi Prasetyo declined to comment on the size of the deployment, but said their job was “to maintain security and order at every stage of the election”.

Share article
Tags: ElectionsPrabowo SubiantoIndonesiaJakartaJoko Widodo
Previous Post

ANC Free State members lose court bid to dissolve PEC

Next Post

Msimanga defends Leon’s campaign trail to Gauteng

Related Posts

A map showing where the bomb blast happened.

Suicide blast in southwest Pakistan kills 13, more than 50 injured – police

29 September 2023, 3:46 PM
U.S. President Donald Trump attends Young Black Leadership Summit at the White House in Washington.

Trump’s campaign machine is bleeding cash for legal expenses

29 September 2023, 12:28 PM
Russian President Vladimir Putin

Putin discusses Ukraine war with top Wagner commander Troshev

29 September 2023, 9:19 AM
A Green Sea turtle swims over a reef on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, in this file photo taken March 20, 2013.

DNA remnants found in fossil of 6 million year old turtle

28 September 2023, 8:14 PM
Police tape.

Multiple deaths at Rotterdam university hospital shooting: Police

28 September 2023, 6:15 PM
European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 17, 2022.

EU executive to propose extra cash, market access for countries hoping to join

28 September 2023, 5:00 PM
Next Post
DA Gauteng Premier candidate Solly Msimanga says the party always needs advice from those who have paved the way.

Msimanga defends Leon's campaign trail to Gauteng

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Six beaches in Durban flagged with high levels of E.coli
  • Visitors planning to visit the Overberg region urged to postpone their trips
  • Western Cape on high alert following severe storm warning
  • Steam trains revived in the Western Cape amid Heritage Day celebrations
  • A level two weather warning issued for southern KZN
  • High waves and rough water conditions force beach closures in the Western Cape
  • Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi to rest in the town he built and nurtured
  • NSPCA files criminal case against Julius Malema for alleged animal cruelty
  • Snow, heavy rainfall expected in parts of KZN: SAWS
  • Cold-front sweeps across SA bringing snow and chilly temperatures
  • Zoleka Mandela to be buried at the Fourways Memorial Park
  • Police investigate fatal shooting on R40 in Hazyview
  • Dudu Myeni appears in Richards Bay court on fraud, corruption charges
  • Officials on the run as corruption allegations rock Sekhukhune District Municipality
  • Night vigils for slain Free State Acting Judge Thamae held nationwide

LATEST

SABC building in Auckland Park.
  • Business

SABC confident amidst financial loss


Mandla Mandela.
  • South Africa

Mandla Mandela urges respect for Zoleka’s peaceful rest


[File Image] Aziz Pahad addressing an event.
  • Politics

Pahad hailed as a fine diplomat


[FILE IMAGE] Former SAA Board Chairperson Dudu Myeni.
  • Business

Dudu Myeni gets R10 000 bail


Penguins at Antarctica
  • South Africa

SA learners invited to join Matrics in Antarctica initiative


[FILE IMAGE] Doctor's room.
  • South Africa

Sekhing community gets healthcare centre


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2023

Previous Dakota Legoete ANC Free State members lose court bid to dissolve PEC
Next Msimanga defends Leon’s campaign trail to Gauteng