DPR Surprised Indonesian Citizens Abroad Can Vote First, Pos Indonesia Boss: Sending Voice Letters Easier

President Director of PT Pos Indonesia (Persero) Faizal R Djoemadi. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Member of the House of Representatives (DPR) RI Commission VI Eko Hendro Purnomo questioned the Indonesian citizens (WNI) who were abroad were often able to vote first during the General Election (Pemilu).

"Going abroad first. I was also confused abroad 2-3 days before (the election) and the election was also long. Why did it happen abroad first while those in remote areas were left behind not a matter of hours but days," Eko asked at the House of Representatives Commission VI meeting with PT Pos Indonesia, Tuesday, July 11.

Responding to this, the President Director of PT Pos Indonesia (Persero) Faizal R Djoemadi explained that this happened because the time for sending ballots abroad was much easier and faster than the distribution of domestic ballots, especially in disadvantaged, frontier and outermost (3T) areas.

"Because overseas delivery is easier than to remote areas. (Because) some modes of transportation (in remote areas), for example, ships come only once a week or twice a week," said Faizal.

However, Faizal emphasized that the distribution of logistics for the benefit of the 2024 General Election would be different from regular shipments.

In addition, continued Faizal, PT Pos Indonesia will also involve the TNI and Polri to assist and escort ballots to location points that have been determined by the General Elections Commission (KPU).

"So that it is fast and does not miss, there is no wrong point to the ballot booth, we need special charters, special leases in order to meet the KPU's request," he explained.

For sending ballots abroad, Faizal said, his party has collaborated with Universal Postal Union (UPU) which will distribute to more than 200 destination countries.

"Indeed, for shipments to destination countries, PT Pos Indonesia in collaboration with customs and customs has been connected to customs networks in 192 countries. So we can guarantee the security of goods sent from Indonesia to post to post destination countries," he said.