Indonesia’s new period of uncertainty following its most intensely fought presidential election in history is moving into a combative phase. This is happening even as the unofficial quick-count results by private polling companies are leading to intense controversy.

While all parties are showing restraint as they brace themselves for the tussle ahead, tensions are simmering below the surface.

The security authorities are on high alert, with orders to shoot rioters on sight. Until the official results are released on July 22, South-east Asia’s largest country will be on tenterhooks as the rival contenders press their competing claims of victory based on various quick counts.

The first shot at political manoeuvring post-election was fired by the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla side, which is forecast by many reputable survey groups to win the presidential election. Mr Kalla predicted soon after the election that Golkar – which supported the rival team of Mr Prabowo Subianto and Mr Hatta Rajasa – would splinter and lead to a change in the political landscape.

… Yang Razali Kassim is a senior fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University.