Dubai: Hundreds of Indonesians cast their ballots at the Consulate General of Indonesia in Dubai for their country’s parliamentary elections on Friday.
At least 7,500 Indonesians in Dubai and Northern Emirates are eligible to vote and by noon half of them had turned up, turning the consulate premises in Al Hudaiba into a place of community.
Colourful and diverse as they are, much like the 17,000 islands that make up the country, the atmosphere in the consulate was a chance to get together and have fun, and at the same time contribute to the progress of the nation.
“We try to make it as excitable for the people as possible. We have been preparing for this day for a long time. A committee consisting of consulate officials and community members was formed to take care of all the election-related activities and arrangements. We have been creating awareness through Radio, SMS and social media. I’m happy with the efforts as it reflects in the turn out,” said Imam Santoso, consul general of Indonesia in Dubai.
The aroma of freshly-cooked food was wafting through the air, while the din of a lively market place took you through the streets of busy Jakarta and the children playing in the background made the event a community affair.
“I like coming here every time the consulate organises an event, it’s so lively in here. It brings me closer to home and one also get to meet old acquaintances and eat traditional food. The elections are important and this is the second time I’m casting my vote from Dubai, it is a duty of every citizen and doing it I feel I’m contributing to the progress of the nation,” said Indah Brown, 44, who is married to an Englishman but is still firmly attached to her motherland.
Parliamentary elections in Indonesia are held every five years and this is the third time the Indonesian Consulate in Dubai is holding overseas elections since its establishment in 2003.
As many as 15 national and regional parties are in the fray this year, and the issues hogging the limelight include development, corruption, education and health.
“Since poverty is under 10 per cent in Indonesia, it is not much of an issue now. What people want now is quality education, healthcare and development. However, issues differ from region to region, since the country is so vast and diverse,” added Santoso.
The elections are also held in Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi as well as at the Embassies and Consulates in other Gulf countries
Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country in the world, with a head count of around 250 million people, but the country boasts a mix of more than 300 ethnicities spread across 34 provinces in the world’s largest archipelago.
