JAKARTA - Indonesia's presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto said on Tuesday that he was rejecting the electoral process, citing flaws, and said he was pulling out from this process and unlikely to challenge to the Constitutional Court.
"The process of election carried out by the Election Commission (KPU) is flawed, not democratic.... and KPU, as the executor is not fair and open," said Mr Prabowo, reading off a two-page statement, less than an hour before the official result was due to be announced.
The former general was flanked by his coalition partners Golkar Chairman Aburizal Bakrie and former chairman of United Development Party Suryadharma Ali.
"There has been a massive, structured and systematic fraud in this election," Mr Prabowo added, saying that his legal team also has proof of foreign intervention in the July 9 election.
His comments come two days after a large coalition meeting on Sunday where his coalition also expressed similar sentiments, claiming they have detailed evidence of these irregularities and fraud.
"We will use our constitutional rights to reject this election and pull out from ongoing process," said Mr Prabowo, to cheers from his supporters at Rumah Polonia, which resembled his basecamp where supporters had gathered during the campaigning.
Asking his supporters to remain calm, he said: "We are not going to sacrifice the mandate we have been given to be played out or be manipulated. We are ready to win or lose in a democratic and respectable way. We ask you to be calm because we won't allow our democratic rights to be snatched."
His campaign secretary, Fadli Zon, and lawyer Mahendradatta, said the Prabowo camp will not be taking it the Constitutional Court, but rejects the election outcome and therefore, rejects recognising the winner.
But cracks in his coalition are now obvious.
Mr Prabowo's running mate Hatta Rajasa was absent at the press conference.
National campaign chief Mahfud MD, who was trying to flee reporters after the event, said he was no longer part of the team.
"Today I have ended my services, returned my mandate to the Prabowo-Hatta team and I will not be following them in their next steps," he said.
A Prabowo-Hatta campaign team staff, Mr Amazon Dalimunthe confirmed this.
Meantime, some die-hard supporters seemed bent on agreeing Mr Prabowo's stand.
Among the many cheers, one was heard yelling: "The truth will prevail!"
