Situation in Maluku is Secure Ahead of Presidential Poll

Ambon, Maluku (Antara Bali) - Chief of the Pattimura Regional Military Command Maj. Gen. Meris Wiryadi said situation in Maluku and North Maluku provinces is secure ahead of the presidential election on Wednesday (July 9).

"The local people are carrying out their activities as usual although rains are falling in Maluku now," he said in a teleconference with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Budiman here.

Meris said the regional military command is preparing 1,600 personnel consisting of 900 to be stationed in Maluku and 700 to be stationed in North Maluku.

In addition, it is also preparing four Anoa armored vehicles, 10 Sarachen armored vehicles, six Ferret armored vehicles, 644 units of anti-riot equipment, three speed boats, a Cassa 212-200 plane, a ADRI XLII ship and 700 reserve personnel, he said.

"There are 3,250 polling stations with 1,216,296 voters in Maluku and 2,269 polling stations with 840,253 voters in North Maluku," he said.

Indonesia will hold a presidential election on July 9, 2014 to be contested by two pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates: Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa and Joko Widodo (Jokowi)-Jusuf Kalla (JK).

The Prabowo-Hatta pair is supported by Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the United Development Party (PPP), the Crescent and Star Party (PBB), and the Golkar Party.

The Jokowi-JK pair is backed by five political parties: the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the Nation Awakening Party (PKB), the Peoples Conscience Party (Hanura), the Justice and Indonesian Unity Party (PKPI), and the National Democrat Party (Nasdem). (WDY)