T

he Sawahlunto General Elections Commission (KPUD) announced on Tuesday that Ali Yusuf and Ismed had won the local mayoral race.

Ali and Ismed were backed by the Democratic Party (PD), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI).

Ali gave Golkar the cold shoulder and was thrown out from the party for running on another ticket. His last position was Sawahlunto city council speaker.

Ismed is the city council deputy speaker and chairman of PKPI's Sawahlunto branch.

The pair garnered 9,570 votes or 30 percent, defeating incumbent Vice Mayor Erizal Ridwan and Emeldi, who got 9,265 votes (29 percent). Erizal and Emeldi ran on a Golkar and United Development Party (PPP) ticket.

Finishing third were Fauzi Hasan and Deri Asta on a National Mandate Party (PAN) and Reform Democratic Party (PDP) ti cket. They took 8,160 votes, or 25.6 percent.

Irwan Hussein and Desrial Eri, who were supported by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party and the People's Conscience (Hanura) Party, got 3,791 votes, while independent ticket Taufik Syamsir and Nasirwan only received 1,094 votes.

Sawahlunto KPUD chief Mardhatillah declared the mayoral election a success with a voter turnout of 76 percent.

'Any parties dissatisfied with the result can file suit with the Constitutional Court, but we expect all parties to accept the result,' he told The Jakarta Post.

Ali said he was pleased with the result and would continue to make Sawahlunto a 'civilized mining tourism city' by 2020.

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court annulled on Monday the Palembang KPUD's endorsement of Sarimuda and Nelly Rasdiana as the winners of the tightly contested mayoral race and declared Romi Herton and Harnojoyo the winners.

Previously, Sarimuda and Nelly were declared the winners with 316,923 votes compared to Romi and Harnojoyo's 316,915.

Mularis Djahri and Husni Thamrin were third with 97,810 votes.

Romi and Harnojoyo then filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court demanding a re-tally of the ballots.

The court approved some of their demands and declared that Romi and Harnojoyo had a 23-vote lead, with 316,919 votes against Sarimuda and Nelly's 316,896.

The court declared that the vote tally in five polling stations had been rigged.

Meanwhile, Palembang KPUD lawyer Alamsyah Hanafiah said the decision was not final as Sarimuda and Nelly had three days to file a countersuit against the decision.