Navy warship to bring supplies to Maluku

TERNATE, Ambon: The Navy's warship and patrol ship under the coordination of the eastern Fleet's Marine Security Task Force (Guskamla) will help distribute election facilities, including ballot boxes and papers, to 320 islands in the North Maluku district.

"The North Maluku administration and the regional election committees will coordinate with the commander of the Ternate Naval Base to help distribute them to North Maluku's subdistricts," Antara quoted Regent Abdullah Assagaf as saying when Rp 270 million worth of election funds were extended for 27 parties here on Tuesday.

He said 78 percent of the 103,789 km square area of North Maluku consists of a marine area which is the main obstacle in the election.

"It is not easy to organize the election in Maluku as most of the villages are located on both big and small islands, unlike Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi which can be reached by land transportation," he said.

Maluku has 21 sub-districts, consisting of 692 villages, most of which are located in the coastal and isolated areas.