KPU selects four firms for ballot printing<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman and Abdul Khalik, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has picked the first four
\nfirms to print at least 151 million ballot papers for the
\npresidential election.<\/p>\n
Emerging from closed-door negotiations with the companies, KPU
\nmember Hamid Awaluddin said PT Temprint, PT Temprina Media
\nGrafika, PT Kartika Naya and printing giant PT Gramedia were the
\nfirst four firms to be awarded the printing job.<\/p>\n
Hamid, who is in charge of the ballot paper procurement, said
\nthe KPU was still negotiating with other firms on the list of 17
\ntender winners in the legislative election.<\/p>\n
\"The four companies did not have any problem in fulfilling the
\nprinting order for ballot papers for the April 5 legislative
\nelection. They have proven that they can complete their work on
\ntime and of good quality. And more importantly, they did not
\nsubcontract,\" Hamid told a press briefing here.<\/p>\n
He said if the deals were finalized with the four firms, they
\ncould immediately obtain the ballot paper template and start the
\nprinting job on Friday.<\/p>\n
The four firms were selected as they operate at least two
\nfour-color processing printing machines.<\/p>\n
Hamid, however, refused to disclose the price agreed upon
\nbetween the KPU and the firms.<\/p>\n
\"This is not a tender, so we did not choose the firms based on
\nprice,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Some firms that won the contract to print ballot papers for
\nthe legislative election admitted to enjoying huge profits as the
\nKPU set a far higher price than what the firms actually spent per
\nsheet.<\/p>\n
Hamid said all companies granted the printing job for the July
\n5 election were expected to complete the printing in 10 days.<\/p>\n
\"The printing is expected to be completed in seven days and
\nanother three days will be given for packaging,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Despite the glitches in the procurement of ballot papers for
\nthe legislative election, KPU will not closely supervise the
\nprinting of ballot papers for the presidential election.<\/p>\n
\"We will only deploy the KPU staff members. Our internal
\nsupervision division will assume the supervisory role,\" Hamid
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said that far-flung regions of the country would be
\nprioritized for distribution to prevent another delay in the poll
\ndue to logistical problems.<\/p>\n
The KPU has set the size of the ballot papers for the July
\nelection at 26 cm by 47 cm, with full color for the front page
\nand two colors for the back page.<\/p>\n
The latest data from the Central Statistics Agency revealed
\nover 151 million eligible voters have been registered for the
\nfirst direct presidential election ever to be held in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
The commission required some 660 million ballot papers for the
\nlegislative elections, costing taxpayers more than Rp 180 billion
\n(US$20 million).<\/p>\n
Separately, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the
\npolice as of May 22 had beefed up security across the country by
\ndeploying two thirds of its force. Poso in Central Sulawesi,
\nAmbon in Maluku, Papua and Aceh will be the areas under close
\nwatch.<\/p>\n
He said bomb squad personnel had been sent to Ambon as blasts
\ncontinue to rock the troubled city. No new reinforcement will be
\nsent to Poso, but a considerable number of personnel are on alert
\nin Makassar in South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Da'i said more police would be deployed to Papua, with the
\npolice still smarting from a shortage of security personnel in
\nthe easternmost province during the legislative election.<\/p>\n
\"Some of our personnel were shot by separatist group members
\nduring the legislative election and we were outnumbered by the
\nattackers,\" said Da'i.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpu-selects-four-firms-for-ballot-printing-1447893297",
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