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)