Controversial quiz ordered shut<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Indramayu\/Jayapura<\/p>\n
While not declaring a controversial quiz a violation of campaign
\nregulations, the Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu)
\ndemanded its halt on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The quiz, which has been published in national print media and
\nbroadcast on private television stations, offers prizes totaling
\nRp 14.1 billion (US$1.5 million) for answering questions related
\nto the achievements of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
\nadministration over the past three years. The quiz is allegedly
\nsponsored by state-owned enterprises.<\/p>\n
Megawati and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will contest the
\npresidential election runoff on Sept. 20.<\/p>\n
Panwaslu said the quiz, which has been organized by the
\nlittle-known Investigation, Mediation and Monitoring Foundation
\n(IMM), had caused a controversy that could impede the basic
\nelection principle of fairness, and had the potential to harm
\neither of the presidential candidates.<\/p>\n
\"We call on the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the
\nMinistry of Social Affairs to suspend the publication of the quiz
\nuntil the runoff is over,\" Panwaslu deputy chairman Rozy Munir
\nsaid here.<\/p>\n
The Election Supervisory Committee arrived at its decision
\nafter questioning executives of six state-owned companies that
\npledged to provide the funds for the quiz prizes.<\/p>\n
The state-owned companies are Bank Mandiri, BRI and BNI 46,
\ntelecommunications company Indosat, oil and gas company Pertamina
\nand coal mining company Bukit Asam.<\/p>\n
Panwaslu said the quiz did not constitute a violation of
\ncampaign regulations because it was not sponsored by either of
\nthe campaign teams.<\/p>\n
\"As the quiz is not a violation to any election regulations,
\nwe are opting not to bring the case to the police for further
\ninvestigation. If we insisted on pressing charges, the police
\nwould simply dismiss them,\" Panwaslu member Topo Santoso said.<\/p>\n
When asked what Panwaslu would do if the KPU, the Ministry of
\nSocial Affairs and the IMM ignored its demand that the quiz be
\nhalted, Topo said: \"We have spoken with the three state banks
\nthat agreed to provide funds for the quiz prizes, and they agreed
\nto ignore their pledge to the foundation after we decided on our
\nofficial stance.\"<\/p>\n
The quiz, however, is not the only case that has concerned the
\npublic. The Panwaslu office in Indramayu, West Java, reported on
\nThursday that postcards bearing the picture of Megawati had been
\ncirculating in schools in the regency and the surrounding areas,
\nincluding Ciamis, Tasikmalaya and Garut.<\/p>\n
Panwaslu is still unsure whether the postcards are part of an
\norganized campaign, or were simply sent out by individuals.<\/p>\n
Thousands of similar postcards also have been found in
\nJayapura, Merauke and Jayawijaya in Papua province.<\/p>\n
An official with the Jayapura post office, Pieter Manduapessy,
\nsaid the postcards were sent from an address in Jakarta and the
\noffice had no choice but to deliver them.<\/p>\n
Local Panwaslu member Friets Ramandey said no steps would be
\ntaken to stop the distribution of the postcards because they did
\nnot violate campaign regulations.<\/p>\n
\"The postcards are being sent to individuals and are not
\npublicly distributed. Therefore, they are the same as regular
\nmail,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/controversial-quiz-ordered-shut-1447893297",
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