Australian MPs visit KPU

JAKARTA: The Australian Parliament delegation paid a visit to Indonesia's General Elections Commission (KPU) on Thursday to witness on-site preparations for the coming 2004 direct presidential election here.

During the visit, the delegation was briefed by KPU chief Nazaruddin Syamsuddin and members Chusnul Mariyah and Hamid Awaluddin on the new system to be applied in the direct election, methods to allocate legislative seats and the verification process of political parties.

The delegates arrived in the country on Monday and have had several meetings with the country's high-ranking officials, including Vice President Hamzah Haz.

Indonesia is slated to organize the first direct presidential election ever in 2004, with some 124 million people expected to vote. --JP