Why is KPU so slow?<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU), whose vote-counting
\nhas been painfully slow, seems to be at a loss as to how to
\nimprove its operations. The commission, which was responsible for
\nall the preparations for the June 7 general election, has been
\ncriticized for its many shortcomings.<\/p>\n
Now even more people are lashing out at the commission for its
\npainfully slow ballot counting. Some KPU members say that
\nsluggishness is the order of the day among regional election
\ncommittees. The commission has appealed to the public to
\nunderstand that those involved in the counting in the regions are
\nnot professionals; nor have been adequately trained.<\/p>\n
Organizing the election, which came about after the sudden
\ndownfall of president Soeharto in 1998, was done under great
\npressure because many political observers believed any delay
\nwould cause extra problems for the nation.<\/p>\n
This caused everything to be done in a great hurry, including
\nthe formation of political parties.<\/p>\n
Ambitious politicians made things even more difficult by
\nsetting up political entities with no regard for political
\nplatforms and ignoring changes in society.<\/p>\n
The KPU should now take responsibility for the problems that
\nare causing the announcement of the final tabulation to be
\nrepeatedly postponed.<\/p>\n
Reports on Thursday said the KPU had ordered the Indonesian
\nElections Committee (PPI) to postpone the national vote
\ntabulation until the KPU issued a decree to set the date for the
\nprocess to begin. But PPI vice chairman Djuhad Mahja rejected the
\nidea, saying there was no legal basis for the order because the
\ndecision was made outside normal procedure. "It is a product of
\nan emotional situation," he said.<\/p>\n
The controversy appears comical, but it is very real.<\/p>\n
Despite the slowness, the KPU is clearly involved in a comedy
\nof errors in which almost no complaints or irregularities are
\nfairly settled. The commission also was recently accused of
\nmisusing funds. And in some provinces, political parties have
\ncomplained about money politics and other violations involving a
\n"certain party". The party to which most of the suspicion is
\ntargeted is Golkar, president Soeharto's former election machine.<\/p>\n
However, the weakness of the commission lies in its members.
\nKPU consists of representatives of the 48 political parties, the
\nmajority of whom most Indonesians deigned to ignore in the polls.
\nAlthough these "extras" in the national blockbuster called the
\ngeneral election appear to be of minor significance, they command
\na high profile within the KPU.<\/p>\n
Another report claims the commission sacrificed an important
\nagenda in its plenary session after members of the lesser parties
\nstormed it. The session had been planned to discuss the final
\ntabulation of the votes, alleged corruption within KPU and
\nreports of irregularities.<\/p>\n
Representatives of the small parties, which won hardly any
\nHouse seats in the recent polls, were objecting to statements
\nthey found insulting made by KPU vice chairman Adnan Buyung
\nNasution and member Andi Alfian Mallarangeng. The two, speaking
\nin a personal capacity, suggested that political parties which
\nfailed to garner at least 2 percent of House seats should no
\nlonger be allowed to sit on the commission.<\/p>\n
Some political observers claim the statements were logical and
\nthat the parties overreacted.<\/p>\n
Many of the small parties seem to be oversensitive lately,
\nespecially after realizing they have no hope of gaining House
\nseats. But, regretfully, their sour mood is having a dismally
\nnegative impact on the KPU's performance.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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