BIBIT-RUSTRI PAIR WINS C JAVA GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION By Bustanuddin

Jakarta, June 23 (ANTARA)- As already predicted and based on results of a survey made in Semarang, capital of Central Java province recently, Bibit Waluyo and his running mate Ms Rustrinigsih won the provincial gubernatorial election, which took place on Sunday (June 22), the quick count results said.

Bibit Waluyo is a retired Lt. General and former commander of Army's Strategic Reserved Command (Kostrad), while his running mate Rustriningsih is a one-time regent of Kebumen, Central Java.

The Bibit Waluyo-Rustriningsih pair won in the gubernatorial direct election by collecting 1.316.419 votes or about 44.45 percent.

The provisional report, until 8 p.m local time showed that another four pairs namely Bambang Sadono and Moch Adnan got 22,40 percent of votes, Agus Suyitno and Kholiq got 12 percent, Sukawi and Sudharto got 15.75 percent, and Tamzil and Rozaq obtained 11.25 percent.
Bibit and Rustri were supported by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Bambang Sadono and Muhammad Adnan, supported by Golkar Party, Sukawi Sudharto by Democrat Party and Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS), H.A. Kholiq-Arief by the National Awakening Party (PKB), and Mohammad Tamzil by the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

The five contesting pairs took part in the direct gubernatorial election for Central Java's 2008-2013 Gubernatorial term of office.

The teams of the five pairs had worked hard during a two-week campaign from June 5 to 18, 2008.

According to Ari Pradhanawati, a member of the provincial general election commission (KPUD), there were no much constraints in the vote cast.

Some 150 university students were assigned to help count the polling results at the regional KPUD.
Meanwhile the Indonesian Leading Pollster (LSI) has said the number of non-voters in the Central Java Gubernatorial Election on June 22, 2008 based on quick count results reached 45,25 percent.

Eka Kusmayadi, LSI's director said in Semarang on Sunday that the non-voters percentage in this provincial gubernatorial election was higher compared with those in other provinces where the average number of non-voters ranged from 30 to 35 percent.
Earlier, Murdoko, chairman of the Central Java chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said the number of non-voters was expected to reach 35 percent, so that if the election was participated in by 26 million people, there would be about 9.1 million non-voters.

Under the regulations, a pair of candidates can win the first round of the election if they managed to collect 30 percent of the number of valid votes.
"This is a very difficult job, so we need the support from all cadres of the party," said Murdoko who is also chairman of the Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD).

Eka Kusmayadi said, the cause of the sharp increase in the number of non-voters was due among other things by the fact that the number of registered (poor) voters preferred to go to work to earn a living, rather than to cast their votes.

The quick count results until 8 p.m local time, showed that the Bibit Waluyo-Rustriningsih pair won after collecting 44.45 percent of the total number of votes.

Five pairs of Central Java gubernatorial candidates had a two week-campaign scheduled from June 5 to 18, 2008.

In the meantime, Tjahjo Kumolo, PDI-P's chairman said his party was very proud with the Bibit-Rustri pair's victory.

According to him, the victory could boost the success of other party-supported gubernatorial candidates like those in East Java, Lampung and Bali.