Lawmakers call for 'perpu' on general elections<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Amid concerns over the protracted revision of the General
\nElections Law, the House of Representatives has proposed that the
\nPresident issue a regulation in lieu of law (perpu) to enable it
\nto select new members of the General Elections Commission (KPU).<\/p>\n
"Given the quite lengthy revision process of the law, we're
\nsuggesting that a perpu be issued," said Saifullah Ma'shum of
\nHouse Commission II on domestic administration.<\/p>\n
Law No. 12\/2003 on general elections requires the president to
\nsubmit a list of names to be screened by the House as KPU
\nmembers, three months prior to their election.<\/p>\n
With the current membership expiring by the end of March 2006,
\nthe President must submit the names by the end of this month at
\nthe latest.<\/p>\n
"The perpu is to overlook the three month clause, thus we will
\nhave a longer time to deliberate the amendments. We don't want to
\nrush, but we're trying to speed it up," said Saifullah, a
\nlawmaker from the National Awakening Party (PKB).<\/p>\n
The revisions themselves are expected to be completed in
\nJanuary.<\/p>\n
The House had decided to revise the General Election Law in
\nresponse to massive corruption cases within the KPU involving its
\nmembers and staff. Several of them have been jailed while the
\ntrials of others are still underway.<\/p>\n
They were convicted of or charged with receiving kickbacks
\nfrom partner firms that supplied election materials to the KPU
\nand bribing state auditors to influence audit results on the poll
\ncommission's financial report.<\/p>\n
Major points in the revisions are expected to include banning
\nKPU members from involvement in tenders and procurement of
\nelection materials, a move aimed at preventing corruption in the
\nnational elections body.<\/p>\n
"The number of KPU members will likely be reduced to only
\nseven at maximum from the current 11, and they will work only on
\ndrawing general policies. The qualifications are still the
\nsame ... non-partisan and preferably academics," said Saifullah.<\/p>\n
Other issues being discussed in the revision are the selection
\nof staff members for the KPU secretariat, the provision of
\nwitnesses at poll stations and the vote counting mechanism.<\/p>\n
"Ensuring that the number of witnesses at poll stations for
\neach contesting party should be equal and be paid by the state is
\nbeing discussed.<\/p>\n
"A much simpler vote count, aimed at preventing vote rigging,
\nis also being considered by cutting the number of levels that can
\nrecount the votes," said Saifullah.<\/p>\n
The revisions would also include the possibility of
\nmaintaining a certain number of the current KPU members for the
\nnext membership to ensure continuity.<\/p>\n
"For example, the tenure of two members from the current
\nmembership may be extended for one or two years to assist the new
\nones," he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lawmakers-call-for-perpu-on-general-elections-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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