How a poll hero turned public enemy<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
This is a story of a hero-turned public enemy.<\/p>\n
Mulyana W. Kusumah -- a rights activist and member of the
\nIndonesian Elections Commission (KPU) -- was one of the many so-
\ncalled \"heroes\" who it seemed had succeeded in organizing a
\nmammoth task, the 2004 general and presidential election. Last
\nmonth, he was apprehended by the Corruption Eradication
\nCommission (KPK) for allegedly bribing a Supreme Audit Agency
\n(BPK) official to overlook suspected irregularities in the
\nprocurement of ballot boxes.<\/p>\n
It is still hard to believe that a man known for his stout
\nconvictions and modest lifestyle would commit such an offense.<\/p>\n
His record speaks volumes -- active in the Indonesian Legal
\nAid Institute (YLBHI) for over a decade, founder of the
\nIndonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI), and the
\nCommission for Missing Person and Victims of Violence (KONTRAS),
\nMulyana was also a pioneer who of the Independent Election
\nMonitoring Committee (KIPP).<\/p>\n
But the reality is that the 56-year-old ethnic Sundanese --
\nwho claimed the bribe was made with the consent of other active
\nKPU members -- is now incarcerated at Salemba Penitentiary, East
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
From the outset, the KPU faced a herculean task in organizing
\nthe biggest one-day election in the world.<\/p>\n
But it was a task which, by all accounts, was performed
\nadmirably. Or so we thought.<\/p>\n
The success of the elections seemed to gloss over reports of
\nsuspected irregularities on various procurements by KPU as
\nreported by certain NGOs and a few newspapers including The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
These procurements included the provision of ballot boxes,
\nballot papers, information technology hardware, ink, and polling
\nbooths.<\/p>\n
It was Mulyana who headed the ballot boxes committee.<\/p>\n
If the allegations directed towards Mulyana are proven to be
\ntrue, then there is reason to be sad and rejoice at the same
\ntime.<\/p>\n
It will confirm the downfall a man who for years epitomized
\nvirtue and principle, and at the same time give hope to a new
\ninstitution (the KPK) which is willing to pursue crime
\nirrespective of the suspect's rank or reputation.<\/p>\n
The other KPU members must also be ready to bear every
\nconsequence of irregularities committed during their tenure.<\/p>\n
Looking back at the KPU procurements process, it was quite
\nclear that it was far from being well-managed, or transparent. To
\nput it bluntly, it was a mess!<\/p>\n
One of the most fundamental mistakes was the KPU management
\nassuming the direct management of procurements and tenders; a
\nprocess which they had little experience in.<\/p>\n
They maintained that since they would ultimately be the ones
\nheld responsible for the success of the elections, it was best
\nfor them to directly be in charge of all aspects of the process.<\/p>\n
Investigative journalists quickly dug up sources that revealed
\nthat in November 2003, the winning firm of Rp 324 billion (US$38
\nmillion) ballot boxes tender PT Survindo Indah Prestasi was in
\nfact not a ballot-box producer at all and was incapable of
\nproducing 2.1 million boxes.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, KPU's ballot boxes tender committee, chaired by
\nMulyana, still awarded the contract to the company. It became a
\nfateful decision which nearly jeopardized the entire election.
\nAfter the company failed to deliver several months later, the KPU
\nwas forced to hurriedly split the tender and give part of it to
\nanother company.<\/p>\n
Another sign of the KPU's ineptitude was found upon cross-
\nreferencing tax records of the firms participating in KPU
\ntenders.<\/p>\n
More than half of the firms, which reached the final stage of
\ntenders, either had poor or no tax records at all. In fact
\nseveral were not even operating in the sector which they were
\ntendering for.<\/p>\n
How could such companies reach the final stage of KPU's tender
\nprocess?<\/p>\n
One also must question the degree of transparency KPU as the
\nmanaging organization was willing to submit to.<\/p>\n
While the announcement of the tenders and bidding process was
\nmade open to the public, the KPU refused to disclose the details
\nof the financial statements of the selected firms or their core
\nbusinesses, although they were dealing with millions of dollars
\nof public money.<\/p>\n
But a share of the blame should also be placed on the staff at
\nthe KPU head office who despite their long experience, seemed
\nincapable of scrutinizing documents submitted by the firms.<\/p>\n
It seems that financial statement and tax records of various
\nfirms were \"overlooked\". Add to this the presence of various
\n\"brokers\" hovering around the KPU office in Central Jakarta, all
\nacting like they owned the place. These brokers -- some of whom
\nwere ranking officials at a research firm -- pompously ordered
\naround KPU staff with authoritative commands.<\/p>\n
Without a buffer limiting face-to-face interaction between
\nbrokers and tender committee members, scheming was always a high
\nprobability.<\/p>\n
Mulyana has said that KPU was understaffed to carry out
\nthorough examinations of firms in the KPU tenders.<\/p>\n
It seems such a simple and costly oversight now. Whether this
\nis a crime of negligence or one of greed is something the Adhoc
\nCorruption Court will need to decide.<\/p>\n
The writer is a journalist of The Jakarta Post.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/how-a-poll-hero-turned-public-enemy-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }