Mr Prabowo Subianto (left) and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka are slated to be Indonesia's next president and vice-president after the polls.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
SINGAPORE – Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong congratulated Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Feb 15 after the “smooth and successful” conduct of elections in South-east Asia’s most populous nation the previous day.
In a statement on Feb 15, the Prime Minister’s press secretary Chang Li Lin said the two South-east Asian leaders had strengthened the close ties between the countries during their tenures by resolving longstanding bilateral issues.
At the retreat, they witnessed the signing and exchange of three agreements, as well as an exchange of letters undertaking to bring them into force at the same time.
These comprised a flight information region agreement, a defence cooperation agreement and an extradition treaty.
She added that the leaders also paved the way forward in new frontiers of cooperation, namely, sustainability, the digital economy and human capital development.
Besides calling Mr Widodo, PM Lee also called Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, who was one of the three candidates to contest Indonesia’s presidential election on Feb 14.
Ms Chang said PM Lee congratulated Mr Prabowo for his strong showing in the election.
Both of them also discussed the excellent state of bilateral relations, and agreed on the importance of identifying new and mutually beneficial areas of cooperation.
Based on unofficial quick counts of sample votes, several pollsters showed him with nearly 60 per cent of the vote – a necessity to capture the presidency without the country having to go to an electoral run-off.
Presidential candidates must win more than 50 per cent of the country’s vote, and get at least 20 per cent of the vote in half of Indonesia’s 38 provinces to prevent a run-off election between the top two candidates.
Quick counts, which are based on a sampling of votes at polling stations, are considered fairly accurate in projecting the winning margins during elections.
Official results are slated to be released by Indonesia’s General Elections Commission by March 20, and are not expected to differ significantly.
Visitors walking through a light installation in Thailand. The authorities believe the campaign would boost tourism revenue.
PHOTO: AFP
BANGKOK – Foreign tourists will receive medical coverage of up to 500,000 baht (S$18,600) in case of accidents in Thailand, and compensation of up to one million baht in the event of death, under the government’s new campaign to assure tourists of their safety when travelling in the country.
The campaign aims to assure foreign tourists that they will be properly taken care of while they are in the kingdom, Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said at its launch on Feb 14. The campaign is a collaboration between Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry and its Public Health Ministry.
Explaining that the campaign’s goal is to strengthen the positive image of Thailand as a global holiday destination, she said the Tourism and Sports Ministry had set aside 50 million baht to fund the scheme.
The money will come from the ministry’s budget for emergency expenses and will be used to compensate foreign tourists on a case-by-case basis during their travel in Thailand between Jan 1 and Aug 31, 2024, she added.
The maximum coverage is one million baht per person in case of death and 300,000 baht per person for permanent organ loss, loss of sight or permanent disability. Medical expenses will be covered according to the actual amount paid, but not exceeding 500,000 baht.
Tourists will not be eligible for the coverage if the incidents stem from their carelessness, intention to take part in any illegal activity, or risky behaviour.
To apply for the coverage, foreigners holding a tourist visa can submit documents at the provincial tourism and sports offices, or at tourist assistance centres located in Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. Applications can also be submitted via post and e-mail.
Ms Sudawan said the ministry believed the campaign would help boost revenue from tourism. She added that foreign arrivals as at Feb 11 totalled 4.3 million, putting the country on track to achieve its target of 35 million foreign tourists in 2024.
The ministry has set a 2024 revenue target of 3.5 trillion baht from these 35 million foreign tourists and some 205 million trips made by Thai tourists.
The insurance programme would cover a gap period as the Foreign Tourists Assistance Fund was dissolved two years ago, and a new tourism fee had earlier been expected to be collected for tourism insurance and to develop attractions.
Under the other scheme, foreign arrivals by air were meant to be charged 300 baht while those coming by sea and land would be charged 150 baht. The scheme, however, was postponed indefinitely.
Ms Sudawan insisted that the ministry did not plan to cancel the 300 baht landing fee, although it would not be implemented in the immediate future, as the tourism market had only just recovered from the impact of Covid-19. The ministry wanted to focus on increasing arrival numbers and tourism spending first.
The ministry’s deputy permanent secretary Mongkon Wimonrat added that the ministry will use its Thailand Traveller Safety (TTS) platform to facilitate the disbursement of insurance coverage to foreign tourists. The platform offers online registration for non-Thai residents with tourist visas.
Mr Mongkon said the TTS database, which collects data with the consent of providers, can be accessed by Thailand’s Tourist Police Bureau and National Institute for Emergency Medicine, which will help speed up the disbursement process.
Tourists can claim medical expenses within 15 days of the incident and compensation is expected to be paid 15 days after that, he said. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
JAKARTA -- Indonesians cast their ballots Wednesday to choose the successor to Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in the world's largest direct presidential vote.
Pre-election opinion surveys showed Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, 72, was leading the race over his two rivals, former Jakarta Gov. Anies Baswedan, 54, and former Central Java Gov. Ganjar Pranowo, 55.
Follow all the key developments with us here on our live blog, and be sure to check out the rest of our election coverage, including these highlights:
12:00 p.m. The official tally from the General Elections Commission shows Prabowo leading with 56.4% of the vote, followed by Anies at 24.6% and Ganjar at 19%. The figures represent results from 42% of the more than 820,000 total polling stations.
11:30 p.m. Indonesia's Elections Supervisory Body, Bawaslu, reports cases where voters and officials at around 3,700 polling stations were intimidated to vote or work in favor of certain candidates. It does not say which candidates benefited. There were over 820,000 polling stations across the country.
Bawaslu officials in a press briefing say they also found cases where voters cast ballots twice at 2,400 polling stations. Election supervisors and witnesses representing some candidates were not given access to local tallies in nearly 2,000 polling stations.
Rival camps raised allegations of electoral fraud after unofficial quick count results showed Prabowo winning a majority vote.
10:20 a.m. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo says the election quick counts are done according to a "scientific method" but stresses, "We have to wait for official results" from the elections commission.
Making his first public comments since Wednesday's quick counts showed Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto winning the presidency easily, Jokowi says he has met with and congratulated his cabinet member and former rival.
Responding to allegations of election fraud by Prabowo's opponents, the president says there are "layers of oversight" to reduce the possibility of rigging, including witnesses for each ticket installed at each of the more than 820,000 polling stations across the country. "However if [cases of fraud still] happen, there is a trial mechanism through Bawaslu," an acronym for the Elections Supervisory Body, and the Constitutional Court. "Just bring the evidence," Jokowi says.
9:20 a.m. Despite Prabowo's commanding lead in the presidential vote, based on the unofficial quick counts, his Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) has fallen short of expectations with just around 13% to 14% of the vote in similar counts for the national legislative election.
That puts Gerindra in third place in Wednesday's vote, with 70% to 90% of samples accounted for -- behind the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) with 16% to 17% and the Golkar Party with 14% to 15%. The PDI-P supports Ganjar, while Golkar is Gerindra's coalition partner backing Prabowo.
Opinion polls in recent weeks had Gerindra almost tied with the PDI-P at nearly 20%.
9:00 a.m. The Jakarta Composite Index rises 1.8% as the market opens on Thursday morning, after Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto's apparent presidential victory based on quick count results. The stock market was closed on Wednesday as the government declared election day a public holiday.
1:12 a.m. The world's biggest single-day election saw nearly 259,000 candidates and 18 parties contest 20,600 posts across the Indonesian archipelago of 17,000 islands. The U.S. State Department called the vote "a testament to the durability and strength of the Indonesian people's commitment to the democratic process."
A coalition of parties backing Prabowo had about 42% of votes in the contest for national legislative seats, according to the unofficial counts, while an alliance behind Anies had 27%, indicating a potential Prabowo government could have strong parliamentary backing.
Wednesday, Feb. 14
Supporters listen to Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto's speech in Jakarta on Feb. 14, after quick counts pointed to him winning in one round. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
10:00 p.m. Indonesia's election commission says additional voting could take place at 668 polling stations as flooding in Java and other areas, as well as the lack of ballots, prevented some people from voting.
The commission has not said how many voters will be eligible. The move is not expected to affect the outcome of the presidential election.
8:20 p.m. Gibran Rakabuming, speaking after Prabowo, thanks the defense minister for choosing him as his running mate, adding he did not expect the quick count results to be "this high." The unofficial figures show their ticket winning nearly 60% of the vote.
"I was nothing three months ago. So I extend my utmost gratitude to Pak Prabowo for giving room to young people like me ... to become part of the journey toward a golden Indonesia," says the 36-year-old son of President Joko Widodo. "I'm sure the high [quick count] figures are because of [support from] all the young people. Next, we want to involve the youth more."
He adds that he wants to soon meet with candidates from both the rival camps. "Because we are all brothers. There's no need to bully other pairs or their supporters."
8:05 p.m. Prabowo delivers a speech to cheering supporters in South Jakarta.
"We're grateful for the quick count results," he says, noting that all of them show his ticket with running mate Gibran Rakabuming winning the election in one round. "However, we must not be euphoric. We must stay humbled. This victory must be a victory for all the people of Indonesia."
Echoing his rivals, he adds, "We must still wait for the official result from the General Elections Commission." But he pushes back against suggestions of polling irregularities, saying, "We believe that Indonesia's democracy is going well."
Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto speaks to supporters in Jakarta on Feb. 14 as his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming, looks on. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Prabowo vows to put together "a cabinet lineup consisting of Indonesia's best."
"With support from the people ... let's embrace the future. Now that the campaign is over, we must reunite ... [and] collaborate for the people of Indonesia."
7:20 p.m. Prabowo and his running mate Gibran are greeted by supporters as they leave the defense minister's residence for the nearby Istora Senayan sports complex in South Jakarta. They are expected to deliver a victory speech soon.
6:45 p.m. Indonesia's Elections Supervisory Body, or Bawaslu, calls for a redo of voting conducted through postal services and mobile polling stations by around 200,000 Indonesians in Kuala Lumpur. Bawaslu head Rahmat Bagja says it found "administrative violations" in the process, resulting in none of the votes being included in the Malaysia tally.
6:18 p.m. Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi, daily acting chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country's largest business lobby, calls on all Indonesian citizens "to respect the election process by waiting for the official tally from the KPU (General Elections Commission) and to avoid creating disturbances by provoking others."
6:15 p.m. Prabowo's supporters gather at an arena in South Jakarta to celebrate their possible one-round win, ahead of the defense minister giving a speech. Thousands, clad in his signature light blue, are entertained with upbeat songs.
6:10 p.m. Ari Yusuf Amir, head of the legal team for Anies' campaign, says it has received reports of irregularities from the candidate's supporters across the country, and that the team will investigate them. This echoes comments coming from the Ganjar campaign.
"Many things are happening on the ground that the public had already [suspected]," Amir says, according to state news wire Antara. "We've stood on guard for 24 hours since last night to receive all the fraud reports."
5:50 p.m. The secretary of Prabowo's campaign team says the defense minister plans to deliver a speech to supporters and volunteers in Jakarta at around 6:30 p.m., according to state news agency Antara.
5:40 p.m. Arsjad Rasjid, head of the Ganjar campaign, tells supporters: "Don't feel down. Don't feel sad yet." He urges them to collect evidence of election fraud.
"It's very important now to collect [proof] of anomalies or frauds that have occurred ... many [examples] have come in," Rasjid tells a press briefing in Jakarta. "We want to thank our friends ... who have bravely recorded various footage to explain what happened in their respective polling stations."
He said it is important to uphold democracy in order to maintain trust in Indonesia. "We need international support. We need to get investment in, which is important to create jobs."
5:00 p.m. With quick counts giving Prabowo a significant edge, Anies urges reporters to wait for official results from the General Elections Commission (KPU) before concluding the outcome. The commission has until March 20 to announce the final tally.
"Let's wait and not rush," he says. "We [have to] respect the process at the KPU until everything is finalized. I'm still positive" about the outcome.
4:47 p.m. Between 70% and 80% of quick count results from multiple pollsters have come in, and they show Prabowo keeping his lead with 58% to 59.5% of the vote. Anies comes second with 24% to 26%, followed by Ganjar at 16% to 17%.
In a breakdown by province, some of the results show Prabowo and Anies competing tightly in the nation's capital, Jakarta. But Prabowo has a commanding lead in West and East Java, Indonesia's two most populous provinces, where 90% of the samples have been accounted for.
4:22 p.m. Gibran Rakabuming, son of President Jokowi and running mate of Prabowo, cautions against premature celebrations as quick count results point to their ticket winning a majority.
"Let's wait until the counts are finalized," he says, shortly before catching a flight to Jakarta from Central Java province, where he serves as a mayor and voted this morning. "Just take it easy. What matters the most is that the situation is safe and under control."
If current trends hold, he is expected to join Prabowo to deliver the pair's victory speech later in the evening.
4:05 p.m. "Prabowo's lead is higher than upper estimates" in opinion polls released by several pollsters last week, says Burhanuddin Muhtadi, executive director of Indikator Politik Indonesia. "Our upper estimate was 56%. Now [the quick counts] might reach 57% to 58%, or even 59%," he says in a televised interview.
"President Jokowi's effect is very obvious for Prabowo-Gibran's landslide victory," Muhtadi says.
Defense Minister Prabowo's running mate, Gibran Rakabuming, is Jokowi's son. The president was widely considered to be supporting the duo, even though he did not declare it.
Supporters of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto cheer in front of the venue where he is due to appear in Jakarta on Feb. 14. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
3:50 p.m. Prabowo maintains his lead in quick counts by multiple Indonesian pollsters. With around 50% to 70% of samples accounted for, the defense minister is still commanding 58% to 60% of the vote. His rivals are well behind at 22% to 24% for Anies and 17% to 19% for Ganjar. A majority of quick results from key electorates including densely populated provinces on Java island have been counted.
Assuming the numbers are accurate, the frontrunner looks to be cruising to a first-round victory.
3:10 p.m. Quick count results begin to emerge. Preliminary numbers from local pollsters Indikator Politik Indonesia, Lembaga Survei Indonesia and Charta Politika show Prabowo in the lead with nearly 60% of the vote, with around a quarter of the samples in. Anies trails at between 23% and 25%, with Ganjar at 16% to 18%.
2:10 p.m. Counting is underway at a polling station in Central Jakarta, with staff members opening the white ballot boxes to collect the papers. This polling station allowed some people to vote after the 1 p.m. closure, due to the rain, which has ended in the area.
Polling station staff empty ballot boxes in Central Jakarta after the close of voting on Feb. 14. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
2:10 p.m. Anies says he is optimistic that his ticket will pass the first round of the election and be eligible for a June runoff. "The people of Indonesia want a better life. Families ... want to find jobs easier, want cheaper education, cheaper prices," he tells reporters at his campaign headquarters in Central Jakarta.
"Also, more and more people want a healthier democracy, where their choices are respected and where [everyone's rights] are protected. These voices are getting louder. Day by day, more people want changes."
2:03 p.m. After voting earlier in the day, Prabowo takes a swim at his residence in Bogor, West Java, state media agency Antara reports. "I have problems with my left foot. I can no longer do anything strenuous, such as running. So, swimming is the best for me," he tells reporters.
1:35 p.m. Nana Sudjana, the acting governor of Central Java, says that voting in 10 villages in the province's Demak regency had to be postponed due to flooding, state news agency Antara reports.
1:30 p.m. Ganjar lands in Jakarta after voting in his home province of Central Java. He heads directly to the residence of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri, where they are expected to wait for quick count results. Ganjar dismisses rumors of a planned meeting between Megawati and Jokowi, who drifted apart after the president's son, Gibran Rakabuming, was declared Prabowo's running mate.
Ganjar, Jokowi and Gibran are all PDI-P politicians as opposed to Prabowo, who chairs the Gerindra Party. "It's too early to tell," Ganjar told local reporters of the rumored meeting.
1:05 p.m. Indonesian Armed Forces Gen. Agus Subiyanto says voting has been delayed in a number of regions affected by flooding, including parts of Jakarta, Banten and Central Java provinces. He adds that the military has dispatched 90,000 soldiers to secure the presidential and legislative elections nationwide, including 10,000 in Jakarta alone.
1:00 p.m. It's closing time at the polls, although some stations may stay open a little longer to allow voters who have lined up to cast their ballots. Some citizens faced delays due to the rain. But attention now turns to the quick count results, which will be compiled by local pollsters based on sample polling stations.
11:24 a.m. The Jakarta Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency says that 34 polling stations have been flooded due to heavy rains this morning, state news agency Antara reports.
11:15 a.m. Surya Paloh, media mogul and chairman of the National Democratic (Nasdem) Party, says he will meet with Megawati Sukarnoputri, chairwoman of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), "in a near future." Nasdem backs Anies while the PDI-P supports Ganjar. With Prabowo leading the polls, there has been speculation that the two other camps might join hands to defeat the defense minister in a June runoff if no ticket wins a majority on Wednesday.
"Surely there are many things to talk about regarding the election," Paloh tells local reporters at a polling station in Jakarta.
11:10 a.m. Gibran Rakabuming, Jokowi's son and the 36-year-old running mate of Prabowo, votes in Surakarta, central Java.
11:06 a.m. Megawati Sukarnoputri, the former president of the country, and leader of the Indonesia's largest political party, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, cast her vote in Jakarta. Her party backs Ganjar.
10:29 a.m. Tents at a number of voting stations collapsed in the Cempaka Baru Village area, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, due to heavy rain this morning, state news agency Antara reports.
10:10 a.m. A coffee shop worker in Jakarta says the cafe delayed its opening by four hours to give employees time to vote.
Starbucks, meanwhile, was providing special discounts on drinks to anyone who votes on Wednesday.
A sign advertises Starbucks' discount for voters on election day. (Photo by Nana Shibata)
10:05 a.m. Sri Suprihatin, a 50-year-old homemaker in Tangerang, west of Jakarta, says she voted for Anies Baswedan due to his promise to bring "changes."
"I'm tired of price increases, such as fuels and food staples," Suprihatin tells Nikkei Asia after casting her vote. "I hope the new president will keep the prices [stable]." She adds that she likes Anies because he's "a good Muslim" whom she hopes will be more supportive of Islamic congregations.
9:10 a.m. Prabowo Subianto, the favorite to become the next president, votes at a polling station near his residence in West Java. Afterward, he thanks organizers for the "orderly" process and talks about the wet weather. "According to our people's belief, rains bring blessings and sustenance. So hopefully everything will go well. Let's wait for the results."
Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto votes in Bogor, West Java, on Feb. 14. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
8:57 a.m. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo votes with first lady Iriana near the presidential palace in Central Jakarta. "We're hoping ... that the election will run smoothly, all the people can exercise their right to vote well and [the election] is conducted honestly, fairly ... and securely," he says.
Responding to a question about vote rigging concerns, he replies: "There is a mechanism for everything. If there's fraud on the ground, reports can be filed to the elections supervisory body. And if it's not solved ... a lawsuit [can be filed] to the Constitutional Court."
Jokowi says he has not communicated this morning with his son, Gibran Rakabuming, the 36-year-old running mate of Defense Minister and presidential frontrunner Prabowo Subianto. The president is widely seen as backing the pair despite having not openly declared his support for them.
A polling station in Tangerang, in Banten province. (Photo by Erwida Maulia)
8:45 a.m. Ardiansyah Seno, an 18-year-old college student, says after voting in his first presidential election, "Choosing a president was easy because I made my choice a long time ago."
The Prabowo Subianto supporter voted in East Jakarta. "I chose them because I was interested in their program which will provide free lunches and free milk [to students and expectant mothers]," he says of Prabowo and his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming, the son of incumbent President Joko Widodo.
"It will help improve the nutrition of my younger siblings," he says, adding that Prabowo's job creation pledge is attractive for young people ready to enter the workforce.
8:45 a.m. Former Central Java Gov. Ganjar Pranowo casts his vote in Semarang, the capital of Central Java province.
Before heading to vote, he expressed optimism, citing exit poll results from overseas reportedly showing his ticket in the lead. Indonesian embassies in many countries had held the polling earlier. "I think the results are good in many countries that have held the election. This makes us more optimistic," said Ganjar, who is backed by the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. "Let's wait for the quick count [results]. As long as the pollsters [performing those] have good integrity, I'm sure [people] can accept the results."
Ganjar also called for a "clean" election, repeating concerns among civil society groups and academics over the state of Indonesia's democracy, amid allegations of President Joko Widodo's mobilization of support for Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto. "Let's all return to the right path today ... for a better, hopefully more substantive democracy and election."
Ganjar's running mate, Mohammad Mahfud MD, voted in neighboring Yogyakarta province.
A citizen holds up his inked finger, which shows that he voted, after casting his ballot in Jakarta on Feb. 14. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
8:39 a.m. Anies Baswedan casts his vote near his home in South Jakarta. The presidential hopeful, positioning himself as an opposition candidate, repeated his call for "changes" and for an "honest and fair" election just before heading to the polling station.
"We're calling on [our] volunteers, sympathizers and party activists to reach out to those that haven't been reached," he said. "Ask them to vote. We're offering changes. We're sure everyone wants these changes."
Implying that there could be attempts at manipulation, he added: "We're sure all poll station officers want their children to have good jobs, good education and want cheaper staple prices. So if there is an instruction [to do things] against your conscience and inspiration, stay steadfast and uphold your principles."
Anies' running mate, Muhaimin Iskandar, voted at a separate location in South Jakarta.
7:10 a.m. It's a rainy election day in Jakarta. Some experts warn that the poor weather could affect turnout, especially among young voters.
7:00 a.m. Polling stations are now open in western Indonesia, including Jakarta. As the archipelago nation has three different time zones, the eastern and central regions started voting earlier in the day. There are about 820,000 polling stations nationwide, and over 204 million citizens aged 17 or older are eligible to participate.
Polling station staff prepare ballot boxes in Jakarta on Feb. 14. (Photo by Nana Shibata)
Wednesday has been designated a public holiday for the election. Legislative polls for the national, provincial and city levels are being held simultaneously. The General Elections Commission aims for a turnout of around 82%, almost the same level as the previous presidential election in 2019.
Voting will close at 1 p.m. Jakarta time. Quick counts should be known later in the day. A runoff would be held in June if no candidate wins a majority.
Officials said Tuesday's talks were constructive and would continue, but the lack of an immediate breakthrough fuelled fears among hundreds of thousands of people crammed into Rafah that Israel would soon storm the city on the border with Egypt.
Adding to their concerns, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas, which runs Gaza, had presented no new offer for a hostage deal in the Cairo talks, and said Israel would not agree to the Palestinian group's current demands.
Tensions also rose along Israel's northern border with Lebanon on Wednesday. Israel said a woman was killed in a rocket attack from Lebanon, and four people were reported killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military says it wants to flush out Islamist militants from hideouts in Rafah and free hostages being held there after the Hamas rampage in Israel on Oct 7, but has given no details of a proposed plan to evacuate civilians.
"The news was disappointing, we hoped there could be a deal reached in Cairo. We are now counting down the days before Israel sends in tanks. We hope they don't but who can prevent them?" Said Jaber, a Gaza businessman who is sheltering in Rafah with his family, told Reuters via a chat app.
Richard Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization representative for Gaza and the West Bank, said an assault on Rafah would be "an unfathomable catastrophe... and would even further expand the humanitarian disaster beyond imagination."
French President Emmanuel Macron raised similar concerns in a phone call on Wednesday with Mr Netanyahu, the president's office said, saying further forced displacements of people could also bring regional escalation.
Mr Prabowo Subianto has claimed victory in Indonesia’s presidential election based on early counts, making it the third time lucky for the defence minister after previous attempts for the top job. He added, however, that the public should wait for official results from the General Elections Commission (KPU).
The former general has secured over 58 per cent of votes according to some pollsters focusing on the region, ahead of rivals Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo.
"On behalf of the Prabowo-Gibran team and the Indonesian coalition, we are grateful for the quick count results. All counts, all survey institutions, including institutions that are on the sides of other presidential candidates, show the numbers that Prabowo-Gibran won (in) one round," said Mr Prabowo to racuous applause at the Istora Senayan stadium in Jakarta.
He added: “The campaign is over; we must unite once more. Indonesians want harmony among their leaders and adherence to traditions and the teachings of our elders to seek friendly relationship rather than enmity. Indonesian culture does not favor disparaging one another.”
Mr Imam hopes the next president will be fair and continue to bring prosperity to the people. “Seeing change is still the number one priority,” he added.
“I am 90 per cent confident that the candidate I voted for will win in one round. If it goes to two rounds, that’s God’s will,” he declared.
First-time voter Khautsar Noor Alip, 19, took videos as Mr Anies walked past, saying it was “exciting” to play his part in democracy.
“The new president can contribute to Indonesia’s future,” the university student said. “I hope the person I voted for can continue to develop the country.”
Mr Anies' supporters, who came from various parts of Indonesia, gathered at his residence in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, after voting. "This is what makes us feel that this is a blessed campaign, they move voluntarily and genuinely. It's amazing," the former Jakarta governor said.
At a polling station in Kebagusan district, South Jakarta, 60-year-old retiree Marta, who goes by one name, told CNA: “I want a leader who is nice, who can understand the people and take care of the people.”
He arrived at the polling station at 9am and the voting process went smoothly, he added. Mr Marta voted at the same polling station as chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The light aircraft model Gabriel BK 160 spiralled out of control and crashed into an oil palm plantation in Kampung Tok Muda, in Kapar, Selangor, on Feb 13.
PHOTOS: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Mr Jinaidi Nasiran had been changing his car tyres at his home in Kapar, Malaysia, when he spotted a plane flying “incorrectly” in the sky.
He then witnessed the plane nose-dive into the ground, crashing into a nearby oil palm plantation, Malaysian news agency Bernama reported on the evening of Feb 13.
The Singapore-owned, two-seater Blackshape Gabriel BK 160 aircraft had crashed into the town west of Kuala Lumpur on the afternoon of Feb 13.
The bodies of two Malaysians on board, the pilot and the passenger, have been found, recovered, and identified as 30-year-old Daniel Yee and 42-year-old Roshaan Singh Raina.
“Something was off with the way the aircraft was flying,” said Mr Nasiran, 55, who lives in Kampung Tok Muda.
“I rushed to the crash site and saw that the plane was already in pieces and slightly buried in the ground.”
He tried but failed to find any victims at the crash site.
Mr Sufian Hadi Abas, who sells fruit near the crash site, said he heard a loud explosion coming from the sky before the crash.
The 45-year-old said: “When I looked up, I saw fragments of the plane flying everywhere before it crashed into the ground.”
Ms Siti Zubaidah Salin, who lives 150m away from the crash site, said she heard a loud explosion and felt tremors when the crash happened.
“I was just relaxing at home when suddenly it felt like an earthquake had hit,” said the 60-year-old.
“I ran outside but there was nothing. It was only later when I heard people talking about a plane crash.”
