Four Surabaya's residents die from overworking at polling stations

Surabaya lost four residents who died after having been overworked at four polling stations around the capital city of East Java Province on April 17.

The Surabaya city government revealed here on Saturday that the four dead polling station committee workers were identified as Sunaryo, Thomy Heru Siswantoro, Badrul Munir, and Hariono.

Sunaryo, 58, was chairman of the polling station working committee/polling station number 13 in Kapas Madya Baru Village, Tambak Sari, while Tomny Heru Siswantoro was a member of the polling station number 19 in Pacar Keling Village, Tambak Sari Subdistrict.

Badrul Munir was noted as a member of polling station number 19 in Kedung Baruk Village, Rungkut Subdistrict, and Hariono, 36, was a security guard from Kandangan Village in Benowo Subdistrict who was in charge of securing polling station number 45.

Accompanied by several officials of the Surabaya city government, Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini visited the family of Hariono, who died of exhaustion on April 22 on Saturday.

Rismaharini and her entourage were warmly welcomed by Hariono's wife, Mukholifah, at her home. During the meeting, Mukholifah asked Rismaharini's help in finding her a job that would enable her to make a living for her children.

In response to the request, Rismaharini said she promised to find a job for her at a health center in the Kandangan neighborhood. "I will try to help to lessen the burden of this family," the Surabaya mayor told journalists.

As of Friday, 230 working committee members of polling stations had died of exhaustion and in traffic accidents in the midst of their hectic work schedules, and 1,671 others fell ill, the General Elections Commission (KPU) stated.

These people were managing different polling stations across Indonesia's 25 provinces.

Furthermore, at least 33 Elections Supervisory Committee members and 15 policemen also died while fulfilling electoral duties.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto commented on the deaths of so many members of the polling station working committee, elections supervisory committee, and policemen, who were fulfilling electoral duties.

While appreciating the peaceful completion of the democratic process, Wiranto deplored the deaths of members of the polling station working committees, elections supervisory committees, and security personnel during the electoral process.