Candidates list released, doubts still lurk

JAKARTA (JP): The National Elections Committee finally announced the temporary lists of provincial legislative candidates on Sunday, but party officials raised doubts over the validity, citing possible technical errors.

The fixed list will be issued on May 19, pending changes if any members of the public forward strong reasons for complaints against a candidate.

In a press release, the committee stated the list comprised of some 13,500 provincial legislative candidates from 48 parties contesting the June 7 poll.

The temporary provincial legislative list was originally scheduled for release on May 12, to be followed by three days of distribution.

Elections officials earlier raised complaints and revealed that foul play, including tampering with PPI's computer files was behind the delay. The list was distributed to the media on diskettes. A number of dailies planned to publish the list.

Alex Litaay, secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) was upset when he found out the list from the committee revealed the party only had candidates from 15 provinces. He said the party registered candidates from 27 provinces on May 11.

"This is impossible. Where are the rest of the files? I think there must be download or typing errors here. We have proof of the original lists (submitted to the committee)," he said.

Committee chairman Jacob Tobing told The Jakarta Post that all the lists have been completed. "I personally checked every file until dawn. I will recheck them," Jacob, also a committee member from PDI Perjuangan, said.

According to the list, the Justice and Unity Party (PKP) has the most candidates with 935 names, followed by the Republic Party with 924 nominees and ruling party Golkar with 915 names.

The National Mandate Party (PAN) has submitted 541 names from 27 provinces while the National Awakening Party (PKB) has 616 nominees, also from 27 provinces.

"The lowest is Workers Solidarity Party (PSP) with 54 legislative nominees in 16 provinces," Jacob added.

Muhaimin Iskandar, PKB's secretary-general and also a committee member, said he had to stay up until dawn on Saturday to recheck all the lists.

"Some names from the list submitted by PKB were missing and mistakenly placed in a list of other parties. This is quite confusing," Muhaimin said. He said when he last checked the lists at dawn at the PT Metro Pos publishing firm in East Jakarta, the mistakes were fixed. He added he still harbored doubts over the list.

Committee secretary Rasyidi told a media briefing that "some technical difficulties occurred" which contributed to the delay of the list. He cited that half the list of the National Mandate Party (PAN) was missing but the party list was now complete.

With Sunday's announcement, the public has the opportunity to raise objections and pass judgments until Wednesday, when the committee is scheduled to issue the final list and when the campaign period starts. Rasyidi, however, could not specify the time limit for the public to pass judgment on the candidates.

People can state objections in written forms to the PPI office at Wisma Saidah on Jl. M.T. Haryono Kav. 21, Central Jakarta or telephone number (021) 7981972; or to the General Elections Commission (KPU) press center on Jl. Imam Bonjol No. 29, Central Jakarta, ph. (021) 391-1100 or 391-1200, he said.

"The final lists will be announced, printed and distributed across the country up to June 1," Rasyidi, also a commission member of the All-Indonesian Workers Solidarity Party (PSPSI), said.

According to the list, Amien Rais of PAN will run in Jakarta, as will Nur Muhammad Iskandar of PKB.

Zoemrotin K. Susilo, executive of the Indonesian Consumer Foundation, will run on behalf of PAN from Cilacap, Central Java.

The chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), Hamzah Haz, will also be nominated in Jakarta. Megawati Soekarnoputri of PDI Perjuangan has been named the party's candidate in Bandung, West Java.

PDI Perjuangan figures who will now run in Jakarta include Roy B.B. Janis, Kwik Kian Gie, Sabam Sirait and Aberson Sihaloho.

Political activist Pius Lustrilanang will run in Bogor and businessman Arifin Panigoro in Tangerang. (edt)