Yudhoyono's Message to Prabowo, Jokowi

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has sent a message in an interview, as uploaded in the YouTube, to Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo, requesting them to accept the result of Wednesday's presidential elections and maintain good relations. "Mr Prabowo and Mr Jokowi (Joko Widodo) should be ready to accept any result. The winner should not be arrogant and the loser should not be angry. They should not be hostile or have an endless grudge after the election as it will only be reflected in their respective constituencies," Yudhyoyono said in the interview, which was uploaded on July 5 and accessed by Antara on Tuesday evening. On the occasion, the Head of State reminded that once in five years a presidential election is held, and the opportunity for all factions to renominate candidates is wide open. So, the candidates can compete again. He said that the contestant who is elected should start working immediately as the people were waiting. "The time for working has arrived, campaigns and image-building activities have already ended," he added. On the occasion, the president also thanked the people for their participation in the implementation of the general elections in 2004 and 2009 and for their contribution to the advancement of the democracy in the country. The General Elections Commission (KPU) had organized a presidential campaign during the period June 7-July 5 in view of the presidential elections on Wednesday, July 9, 2014. A total of 190,307,134 eligible voters have been registered by the KPU for the elections, consisting of 188,268,423 voters at home and 2,038,711 overseas. Of the total, 95,220,799 are male and 95,086,335 are female. The Indonesian elections will be contested by two pairs: Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa and Joko Widodo (Jokowi)-Jusuf Kalla. Prabowo Subianto is a retired military general and the founder of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), while his running mate, Hatta Rajasa, is a former coordinating minister for economic affairs and the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN). Jokowi is Jakarta's governor and a cadre of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), while his running mate, Jusuf Kalla, is a former vice president and a senior politician of the Golkar Party. (*)