Anticorruption body calls for probe into ballot box tender<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Anticorruption Commission (KPK) called on the police and the
\nAttorney General's Office on Saturday to probe possible collusion
\nin the controversial Rp 311 billion ballot box tender.<\/p>\n
\"We advocate legal action against any possible collusion and
\ncorruption involved in the ballot box tender,\" KPK member Erry
\nRiyana Hardjapamekas said.<\/p>\n
According to Erry, the KPK could not move on the ballot box
\ncase unless the police or the Attorney General's Office refused
\nto look into the issue.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) declared PT Survindo
\nIndah Prestasi the winner of a Rp 311 billion ballot box tender
\nwith a total score of 92, far higher than the minimum of 80.<\/p>\n
In mid-December, however, KPU discovered that Survindo's box
\nproduction was far below its promised target, prompting the
\ncommission to award 40 percent of the 2.19 million ballot box
\nproject to PT Tjakrindo Mas, which ranked second in the tender.<\/p>\n
As of Dec. 31, Survindo had produced only 30,000 or 5 percent
\nof its production target of 600,000 ballot boxes due to financial
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
Last week, KPU finally cut the contract with Survindo and gave
\nthe remaining ballot box production to Tjakrindo and PT Almas,
\nwhich ranked third in the tender.<\/p>\n
Only 645,000 or 29 percent of a total of 2.19 million boxes
\nhave been produced so far, forcing KPU to postpone the
\ndistribution schedule to March 5 from its original date of Feb.
\n26. By March 5, all ballot boxes should have reached all
\nregencies across the country.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is to hold a legislative election on April 5, and
\npresidential election on July 5 with the second round on Sept. 20
\nif there is no outright winner in the first round.<\/p>\n
Some non-governmental organizations have questioned how
\nSurvindo, which turned out not to have the necessary financial
\nbacking to carry out the project, won the project.<\/p>\n
They have also urged the KPU to investigate the commission's
\ntender committee and Survindo for possible collusion.<\/p>\n
KPU, however, has been reluctant to take legal action against
\nthe tender committee and Survindo.<\/p>\n
Separately, Agustin Teras Narang from the House of
\nRepresentatives Commission II said over the weekend that the
\nHouse would question the KPU on Monday over its selection of
\nSurvindo for the project.<\/p>\n
\"With Survindo scoring very high in the tender, it should also
\nhave had the necessary finances. There is lack of prudence on the
\npart of the KPU in the ballot box tender,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But he refused to take further action against KPU until the
\ncommission explained the case to the House in Monday's hearing.<\/p>\n
\"We will do our job on Monday, let's see what will happen,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Some activists have called on the KPU to make emergency plans
\nto address possible shortage of ballot boxes on the election day.<\/p>\n
Government Watch, for example, said KPU should consider
\nannouncing an emergency status on Feb. 1 due to its failure to
\nprepare logistics such as ballot boxes for the upcoming
\nelections.<\/p>\n
The watchdog also called on the House to establish an inter-
\ndepartmental team and independent public team to take over KPU's
\nrole in preparing the required equipment for the election.<\/p>\n
All bona fide companies must then be asked to produce
\nlogistics with the government guaranteeing the funding, the NGO
\nsaid.<\/p>",
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