President agrees to poll schedule for troubled regions<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid has approved the
\nLocal Elections Committee's (PPL) plan to hold elections in three
\ntroubled provinces and newly established provinces and regencies
\nbefore October this year, an official said on Monday.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the General Elections Commission (KPU),
\nRudini, who established the 51 member PPL in November, said the
\nPresident agreed to the plan but asked him to consult the House
\nof Representatives and Ministry of Home Affairs.<\/p>\n
"It must be decided beforehand whether the local elections
\nwill adopt the district system or maintain the present one," said
\nRudini after meeting with Abdurrahman. PPL chairman Agus Miftah
\njoined Rudini for the meeting at Bina Graha presidential office.<\/p>\n
Agus, from the Indonesian People's Party (Pari), said the
\nelections would likely be held in June, or at the utmost in
\nOctober, as required by the Law on Elections.<\/p>\n
Agus said the planned polls would elect regional legislative
\ncouncils in three new provinces -- North Maluku, Central Irian
\nJaya and East Irian Jaya -- and 43 new regencies, including Pidie
\nand North Aceh in the troubled province of Aceh and on Mentawai
\nIsland off West Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Other new and problematic regencies and mayoralties are
\nlocated in Riau, Jambi, East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, East
\nNusa Tenggara, Central Sulawesi and North Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
"The deadline for the elections is in October, but we plan the
\nelections to be held in June," said Agus, who opposed
\nAbdurrahman's candidacy for the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) membership as the representative of the Functional Group in
\nSeptember last year.<\/p>\n
Agus previously said the planned polls would increase the
\nnumber of House of Representative (DPR) members by 32 and
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) members by 15.<\/p>\n
According to Election Law No. 4\/1999, each regency should be
\nrepresented in the DPR and each province deserves five
\nrepresentatives in the MPR.<\/p>\n
The KPU has estimated the cost of the upcoming elections at
\nabout Rp 240 billion (US$34 million).<\/p>\n
"However, this is only our proposal. The final decision is up
\nto the government," said Agus. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-agrees-to-poll-schedule-for-troubled-regions-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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