The six pairs conducted the test in Aceh's Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh on Wednesday morning. The candidates were Zaini Abdullah-Nasaruddin, Abdullah Puteh-Sayed Mustafa, Irwandi Yusuf-Nova Iriansyah, Tarmizi Karim-T Muksalmina, Zakaria Saman-T Alaidinsyah, and Muzakkir Manaf-TA Khalid.

Aceh Independent Elections Commission (KIP) chairman Ridwan Hadi said the test was one of the requirements that must be fulfilled by candidates. The test is applied to all hopefuls running in Aceh regional elections. Besides the gubernatorial election, 20 regencies and municipalities in Aceh will also hold simultaneous regional elections next year.

"The Quran reciting requirement only applies in Aceh and hopefuls that cannot read the Quran at all will not pass the candidacy [process]," he said as reported by kompas.com.

The KIP will not only assess the hopefuls on their ability to read the Quran verses but also how the future local leaders can implement the leadership values as stated in the Quran.

All hopefuls passed the Quran test, an improvement compared to the previous elections where the commission found would-be candidates that could not recite the Quran.

After the test, Ridwan also reminded all the gubernatorial hopefuls to contribute to creating a peaceful atmosphere for the regional elections in Aceh. Security must be maintained until the western-most province elected its new leaders, he added. (rin)

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