INDONESIA’S controversial Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto was announced the winner of the country’s presidential election on Wednesday.

But the two former governors defeated by Mr Sabianto have vowed to contest the result in court.

Mr Subianto, who was accused of abuses under the past dictatorship and chose the son of the popular outgoing president as his running mate, won 58.6 per cent of the vote. 

Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan received 24.9 per cent and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo got 16.5 per cent, the General Election Commission said. 

It posted polling stations’ tabulation forms on its website, allowing for independent verification.

Mr Subianto told a news conference: “We call on all Indonesian people to look to the future together. 

“We must unite and join hands because our challenges as a nation are very big.”

Mr Subianto has received congratulatory messages from other south-east Asian nations as well as China, Russia and the United States.

About 300 demonstrators held banners and signs criticising outgoing President Joko Widodo for supporting Mr Subianto and alleging widespread fraud. 

The second and third place finishers have refused to concede and also allege fraud. 

Mr Baswedan said: “We do not want to let these various deviations from democracy pass without historical records and set a bad precedent for future election organisers.” 

Mr Pranowo also plans a court challenge.

Questions also are still unanswered about Mr Subianto’s alleged links to torture, disappearances and other human rights abuses in the final years of the brutal 30-year Suharto dictatorship, which ended in 1998, during which he served as a special forces lieutenant general.

Mr Subianto was expelled by the army over accusations that he played a role in the kidnappings and torture of activists and other abuses. 

He never faced a trial and vehemently denies any involvement, although several of his men were tried and convicted.