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Tension marred in Indonesia following publication of different vote quick count results compiled by pollsters agencies in media controlled by both president hopefuls camps, led to victory claims of both contenders in the election.
The victory claims announced by both president hopefuls prompted concerns over possible clash between grassroot supporters of the two hopefuls across the country.
"Results of quick counts were not official, the only legitimate results would be issued by the KPU (General Election Commission). We should regard the latest election development as a learning process to become more mature in democracy," KPU Chairman Husni Kamil Malik said on Wednesday afternoon, responding to victory claims announced by both president candidates based on quick count results.
The KPU was scheduled to announce winner of the election on July 22 after concluding the vote tally process on ballots from across the nation. The winner would be the president and president pairing who obtained more votes.
President hopeful nominated by coalition of Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Joko Widodo announced his victory on Wednesday after he learned results of progressing quick counts broadcast by TVs supporting his candidacy that showed his leading position against his contender Prabowo Subianto at an average of 52 to 47 percent.
Later on, Prabowo Subianto who is nominated by coalition of Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, also claimed victory after quick counts broadcast by TVs controlled by his camp concluded his leading of 52 to 49 percent against his rival Joko Widodo.
Supporters of both camps have celebrated their victories in separated places.
Later at night, Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo visited President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the president's residence related to the developing condition.
The president who will hand over presidency jobs to the president-elect in October called on supporters of both camps to exercise restraint, averting situation that may harm the nation.
"We have instructed our supporters for not to get into euphoria, stay alert on provocation. We would let the authorized institutions to carry out vote tally process without being intimidated by external parties," Prabowo told the media on the sidelines of the meeting.
Meanwhile, Joko Widodo pointed out the importance to assure persistence of honest, clean and peaceful aspects in this year's election. He added that he would call on his supporters to restrain, cooling off the situation.
Jimly Ashiddiqie, head of Election Honorary Council (KPP), said that rivalry of the two president hopefuls has been apparently fierce in legislative and presidential elections. It was marred with intensive smears and black campaigns denouncing credibility of the candidates conducted by supporters of both camps.
"This is the first time for Indonesia to see two presidential candidates contending face to face, prone to inciting conflict among grassroot supporters of both camps. In term of democracy, we are not that mature like it was demonstrated by the United States in the last two and a half centuries," Jimly said in a TV interview on Thursday.
He called on both president hopefuls to undertake reconciliation soon after the KPU announced the winner of the election so as to avoid possible conflict between their supporters.
