Omanis in GCC countries vote for Municipal Councils

MUSCAT: The Omani voters residing in GCC countries and students in those countries cast their votes on Sunday to elect their representatives to the Municipal Councils. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Omani citizens headed to Sultanate’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi since early morning to cast their votes. In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), Plenipotentiary Minister Abdullah bin Hamoud al Maawali, Acting Charge D’affaires of the Sultanate’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said that the voting process went according to the procedures set by the Ministry of Interior. In Dubai, the Sultanate’s Commercial Representation Office received a number of Omani citizens residing in Dubai and the other northern Emirates, who cast their votes to select their representatives. In Kuwait, Hamid bin Said al Ibrahim, Sultanate’s Ambassador to Kuwait, and members of the embassy, as well as Omani citizens and students in the State Kuwait cast their votes at the embassy. In a statement, the Sultanate’s ambassador to Kuwait, said that the embassy was keen to raise the citizen’s awareness towards the importance of taking part in this elections, and pointed out that the embassy has briefed on election procedures. Omani voters expressed their delight in taking part in the elections, looking forward that the members will contribute in pushing forward march of development in the Sultanate. Omani citizens residing in Saudi Arabia voted at the Sultanate’s Embassy in Riyadh to select their representatives for the Municipal Councils. Sayyid Dr Ahmed bin Hilal al Busaidi, Sultanate’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and members of the embassy cast their votes as well. Dr Al Busaidy said that the embassy has made all preparations for smooth voting process. Meanwhile, Omani citizens residing in Qatar headed to the Omani Embassy in Doha to cast their votes for the Municipal Councils elections. Plenipotentiary Minister Mohammed bin Saleh Barham Ba Omar, Acting Charge D’afaires at the Sultanate’s Embassy in Qatar, said that members of the embassy also cast their votes. Omani citizens residing in Bahrain also cast their votes at the embassy in Manama. Abdullah bin Rashid al Midalwi, Sultanate’s Ambassador to Bahrain, pointed out that the voting process was smooth as members of the embassy and a delegation from the Interior Ministry briefed the voters on election procedures. Meanwhile, voters from the governorates of Dhofar and Musandam, residing in the Governorate of Muscat and nearby wilayats, cast their votes to elect their representatives to the Municipal Councils. Members of the Main Committee and workers of the Election Committees from all wilayats also voted on Sunday. Voters from the governorates of Dhofar and Musandam poured voted at the Al Ula Basic Education School in the Wilayat of Bausher (for males) and Thuraya Al Busaidiyah Basic Education School (for females). Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal al Busaidy, Minister of Interior, and members of the Main Committee for Elections, accompanied by officials toured the two election centres in the Wilayat of Bausher and Thuraya Al Busaidiyah Basic Education School to ensure smooth election process. Measures were taken to ensure that everything is in place for the smooth running and success of elections. Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Head of the Main Committee for the Municipal Councils’ Second Term Elections, said in a statement that election process was smooth. Regarding electronic system used in casting votes, Al Busaidy said that this is the third time they are using e-voting system, which has been proved to be easy and efficient. He said that the sorting of votes will be automatically done and that the system has been used during Majlis Ash’shura elections. Nasser bin Sulaiman al Sibani, Deputy Chairman of the Public Authority for Radio and Television (PART) Head of the Media Committee for Municipal Council Elections, hailed the efforts of media, as well as Oman News Agency for wide coverage of this important national event. — ONA