Rempang Residents Respond to Quick Count Favoring Prabowo-Gibran

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The people of Rempang Island, Batam were seen as thrilled to participate in the 2024 general elections and vote counting amid the ongoing agrarian conflict in the region.

“This 2024 election is probably the most enthusiastic election in Pasir Panjang Rempang,” Wildan, the chairman of the election committee (KPPS) at the polling station (TPS) 009, said after the voting on February 14.

He recalled that in previous elections, only about 100 people in Pasir Panjang village exercised their right to vote, but in this election, more than 240 people participated.

During the vote-counting process, they cheered happily as the result favored candidate number 1 Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar.

Pasir Panjang Village is a vital location for the development of the Rempang Eco-City project, which is one of the projects listed in the 2023 National Strategic Program. Unfortunately, the project has met with strong resistance from the residents, as it requires relocation and threatens the existence of traditional villages.

Ramli, one of the residents, expressed the hope that the next president could rescue the old villages from relocation.

Candidates' Promises to Resolve the Rempang Conflict

While campaigning in Batam, Anies Baswedan pledged to resolve the agrarian problem on the island and advocated prioritizing the voice of the people over investors. 

Candidate number 2 Prabowo Subianto did not mention the conflict during his campaign visit. He only touched on Indonesian problems in general.

Vice presidential candidate number 3 Mahfud Md also did not specifically mention the Rempang issue, but acknowledged many cases of land grabbing.

Quick count shows Prabowo-Gibran leading 

Rempang residents' hopes for the new president were nearly dashed when the results of a quick count by independent pollsters indicated that Prabowo-Gibran was leading the race.

Residents believed that the Rempang eco-city and resettlement policies would likely continue under Prabowo-Gibran's leadership because the pair was determined to continue President Joko Widodo's or Jokowi's programs.

Saerah, a resident of Rempang, claimed that she could only surrender to God if Prabowo-Gibran clinches victory. She emphasized that she would keep fighting to defend the customary land in Rempang. “Hopefully a miracle will happen. God willing, we will continue to defend our village,” she said.

Ramli also hoped that the government or the elected president would release his son, who has been detained since September 2023 during the protests against the Rempang Eco-City project.

Reports suggested that at least 35 residents were arrested during the demonstration which turned to chaos, and they were charged with treason and vandalism.

YOGI EKA SAHPUTRA

Editor's Choice: Homecoming: Relocated Rempang Residents Cast Votes in Former Villages

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