PDI-P, PKB lead in Jeddah

JEDDAH. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) are the leading parties in the legislative election in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, leaving 10 other contesting parties far behind, according an official statement.

As of April 9 late night local time, of the total 6,333 valid ballots from voters who went to polling stations around Jeddah on April 5, the PDI-P led with 2,190 votes followed by the PKB with 2,044, according to a release by the Indonesian Consulate in Jeddah made available to The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Coming in third was the Prosperous Justice Party with 567 votes. The Gerindra Party and the United Development Party (PPP) got 488 and 333 votes, respectively.

The ruling Democratic Party only garnered 141 votes, far fewer than that of the Golkar Party’s 213 and the Hanura Party’s 174.

 “Counting will continue on April 10 to count the ballots from drop boxes in areas around Jeddah,” consulate official Syarif Shahabudin said in the statement.

A total of 8,126 Indonesians, mostly workers, participated in the election. As many as 6,427 went to five polling stations in Jeddah and one station in Mecca, while 1,698 other cast the ballots via drop boxes.

 “Voter turnout this year represented a huge improvement compared to the 2009 legislative election, when only 1,676 participated,” Syarif said.