No Cikeas Center: Presidential Spokesman

Jakarta (Antara) - Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said here on Sunday that there has never been any vote tabulation activity or a Cikeas Center in the president's private residence in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java. "In connection with online media news reports about Cikeas Center we confirm that there has never been any vote tabulation activity in Cikeas or Cikeas Tabulation Center," he said in a text message to newsmen. He said what is found in Cikeas is a video conference facility where the President could communicate with TNI (military) leadership at central or regional levels. "The facility has been made available for the president to be able to monitor situation in the field with regard to vote counting by KPU (General Election Commission)," he said. With regard to that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, he said, has appealed to the people to remain calm in following and receiving the results of vote tallies by the KPU. "People must not be provoked by unconfirmed and irresponsible news reports like the one telling that there is tabulation of vote tallies in Cikeas," he said. Julian said "President SBY until now has not known who is the winner of the presidential election. In connection with that he ask all parties to be patient and want for the result of final vote counting by the KPU. The head of state, Julian said, states if KPU has officially announced the result of the election all parties must accept it and honor it. Several survey institutes have claimed the Jokowi-JK pair was the winner of the election based on their quick vote counts. Other institutes however have declared the Prabowo-Hatta ticket as the winner. The KPU is scheduled to announce the official result of vote counting and the winner of the election on July 22. Tabulation of vote tallies is now still ongoing. (*)