Saudi- Indonesians cast votes hope to bring changes

(MENAFN- Arab News) Indonesian expatriates including a large number of women thronged to their consulate in jeddah saturday to cast their votes in the 2014 parliamentary elections. the indonesian election commission has also made arrangements in other cities of the kingdom to facilitate their nationals in the voting process through a system of drop boxes where they can cast their vote.

Despite a significant number of indonesian expatriates having left the kingdom during the grace period which led to a drop in the number of eligible voters there was still a good turn out according to official sources

Voters turned up at the consulate in rehab district as early as 8:00 a.m. to cast their ballots. a huge gathering of youth was witnessed near the consulate discussing the polling campaign and trends. some were using indonesian telecom sim cards to broadcast messages.

Arab news spoke to some of the voters who favored the change back home hoping that the new government would address the rampant corruption in the country. although they didn't name who they had voted for they said that they supported the pdip and its presidential nominee who is currently governor of jakarta

Sukara a sales executive who came from the industrial area to cast his vote told arab news 'i am hopeful my vote will bring changes back home.

There are a significant number of indonesian students studying in islamic universities in makkah madinah and riyadh who support the pks another political group in their country

A total of five polling booths in jeddah and two in makkah have been arranged to ease the voting process according to indonesian official sources. the indonesian haj mission in makkah was chosen as the venue for balloting in the holy city where a sizable indonesian expatriate community resides indonesian overseas election commission or ppln official akhmad masbukhin said

He told arab news that besides jeddah the makkah election commission has arranged for 11 drop boxes in various cities including madinah abha tabuk yanbu jizan and other cities for voters to cast their ballots

He said that jeddah had over 100000 registered voters but the figure had fallen owing to a large number of them who had left the kingdom during the grace period to correct the status

'there are 68000 eligible voters in riyadh" ahrul tsani fathurrahman spokesperson of indonesian embassy told arab news

He added that apart from the polling booths at the riyadh embassy the election commission has also arranged 16 drop boxes in various cities including dammam buraidah and jouf.