Soeharto's family to gather to vote

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto will get together with his family Thursday before voting at a polling station near his residence on Jl. Cendana, along with about 300 other residents of Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, in his capacity as the chairman of the provincial election committee, visited Soeharto yesterday to deliver a notification asking him to vote.

Surjadi was accompanied by Central Jakarta Mayor Abdul Kahfi, Menteng subdistrict head Wahab Ismail and a subdistrict election organizer, Zulmy Hayati Tando.

Soeharto's children, including the newlywed Hutomo Mandala Putra and his bride Ardhia Pramesti Regita Cahyani Soerjosoebandoro, are all registered as voters at the presidential residence.

Surjadi said after the meeting that the President had expressed hope that the general election would proceed smoothly.

"This election is expected to proceed smoothly, safely and orderly," Soeharto was quoted as saying.

About 124 million people are registered to vote at 305,219 polling stations across the country. Preliminary results from counting in the 27 provinces will be broadcasted by state television station TVRI from 7 p.m. on election day. Updates will be broadcasted hourly.

All available communication links will be mobilized to provide speedy and accurate updating of ballot counting.

In 1992, provisional results for 95 percent of votes were announced at 2 p.m the day after the poll.

The elections, dubbed a "fiesta of democracy", is held on a working day and civil servants are required to vote near their offices.

The United Development Party (PPP), the ruling Golkar, and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) are contesting the general election. At stake are 425 seats in the 500-seat House of Representatives; the remaining 75 seats will be occupied by the Armed Forces whose members do not vote.

All eligible voters are expected to receive notifications telling them to vote Thursday. They must present the notifications at polling stations.

Surjadi also gave notifications to Vice President Try Sutrisno and his family at Try's residence on Jl. Diponegoro. (06)

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