JEDDAH: Indonesian expatriates living in Saudi Arabia will participate by distant ballot on Wednesday in the much-publicized presidential election in the biggest Muslim-majority democracy in the world.
Many Indonesian workers told Arab News they have been looking forward to the voting process with excitement.
“When I came here seven months ago to work as a driver, I thought I would miss my right to vote in the presidential election. But thanks to the consulate, I will be casting my vote tomorrow,” Abdullah Nusa, 39, told Arab News in Jeddah on Tuesday. “I am happy that I will be among tens of thousands of overseas voters participating in the election process,” he added.
“I’m very much excited, as I will be casting my vote for the second time,” said Muhammad Ikrar, an Indonesian domestic helper.
Meanwhile, some workers said their employers would not allow them to travel to the polling centers.
Indonesian diplomats said the embassy in Riyadh and the consulate general in Jeddah have made adequate arrangements for the voting.
Indonesian Ambassador Salim Segaf Al-Jufrie said the embassy and its consular section would be closed on Wednesday because of the elections. He said a total of 21,340 registered voters were eligible to vote at the embassy, while 82,713 would cast their ballots at the consulate in Jeddah. Polling stations have been set up at both places, he added.
The polling stations will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. He said those, who have not registered with polling committees in the Kingdom, would not be allowed to vote.
However, Zem Khallis Bustami, head of the election committee in Jeddah, said Indonesians who have renewed their passports or reported their arrival at the embassy or consulate between 2004 and August 2008 could cast their votes as they are automatically registered.
The election committee for western Saudi Arabia has set up four teams to supervise the process at five voting stations — two at the consul general’s residence, and one each at the consulate, the Indonesian school and the Indonesian Haj Mission Office in Makkah.
“After completion of the election, the votes will be tabulated and the tally result will be sent to Jakarta by electronic mail and cargo service,” said Al-Jufrie.
Indonesian Consul General Gatot Abdullah Mansyur appealed to employers to allow their Indonesian workers to go and vote.
Saudi Arabia is home to a large number of Indonesian men and women, including professionals, skilled workers and domestic helpers.
Wednesday’s election will determine the fate of the candidates contesting for the posts of Indonesian president and vice president. The newly elected president will be installed in October.
The presidential contenders include the incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former President Megawati Sukarnoputri and Vice President Jusuf Kalla. Opinion polls, which are being discussed by Indonesian expatriates in Riyadh, indicate that Yudhoyono is the favorite. “The five men and one woman vying to become president or vice president are familiar faces,” said Kader Suko, an Indonesian worker.
