Election body elects presidium in place of chairman Rudini
Election body elects presidium in place of chairman Rudini
JAKARTA (JP): Amid reports of corruption, the General Election
Commission (KPU) elected a presidium to replace its chairman
Rudini, who recently requested resignation for health reasons.
In the absence of five government representatives, KPU members
voted for Agus Miftach from the Indonesian People's Party (Pari),
Djuhad Mahja from the United Development Party (PPP) and Benny
Akbar Fatah from the National Labor Party (PBN) for seats on the
presidium.
The government representatives labeled the election as
illegal.
But Agus, who along with Benny orchestrated the election,
defended the election's validity, saying it was held in response
to Rudini's request to retire.
"The new presidium is formed to execute the election
commission's daily affairs. The commission needs leaders in its
daily tasks," he said.
Agus said it was up to the government to recognize the
presidium or not because it was formed for the sake of the
organization.
Corruption has beleaguered the commission following the
Supreme Audit Agency's (BPK) report that it foiled a leak of Rp
117 billion in the election commission during the 1999 general
election.
The House of Representatives and the government have agreed to
revise the law on general elections in an obvious move to
dissolve the commission and set up an independent one.
Sri Bintang Pamungkas, representing the Indonesian Democracy
Union Party (PUDI), threw his weight behind Agus, saying the
election of the presidium members was held because Rudini was
unable to effectively carry out his duties because of his
gradually declining health.
Asked to comment on the alleged leak, Bintang suggested that
the Attorney General's Office and the police investigate it and
bring to justice all individuals involved.
Separately, the commission's deputy chairman, Adnan Buyung
Nasution, who is a government representative, called the election
illegal due to the absence of the government representatives, who
altogether own 24 votes.
"They (other KPU members) tried to take over the leadership in
the commission," Buyung said after a hearing with the House of
Representatives Commission II for home and legal affairs.
He pointed out that the current KPU chairman was not due to
resign until the President approved his resignation bid.
In Yogyakarta, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien
Rais said Rudini had every right to resign but he could not
escape from the alleged corruption case in the commission he led.
"Rudini cannot shake off his responsibility over BPK's
allegation of corruption," he told reporters here after speaking
at a seminar organized by the School of Political and Social
Sciences of Gadjah Mada University and the Assembly's Ad Hoc
Committee II. (rms/jun/edt/44)