Election screening deadline for legislator candidates extended

JAKARTA (JP): The government yesterday was forced to extend the period of administrative screening of prospective legislators because a number of candidates had failed to submit the necessary documents on time, an official said.

"The screening process is not yet completed. We have decided to extend the process until Nov. 30," deputy spokesman for the General Elections Institute Zumaidy said, reported Antara yesterday.

National Screening Committee chairman Sutoyo N.K. had announced that a number of candidates have not completed the screening documents, said Zumaidy.

The screening period for prospective members of the House of Representatives (DPR), and provincial and municipal legislative councils started on Sept. 17 and should have ended yesterday.

Prospective House members are screened by the Institute, while candidates for provincial and municipal legislative councils are screened by the provincial office of the General Election Institute and the municipal General Election Institute.

The national screening committee comprises 17 people from the Home Affairs Ministry, the General Election Institute and the Internal Security Agency (Bakorstanas). Every provincial and municipal screening committee is made up of nine people from the local administration and the provincial Internal Security Agency (Bakorstanasda).

Nov. 30 had been previously scheduled as the final deadline for each of the three political groupings -- the dominant Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) -- to argue the merit of candidates, and make any necessary changes to their lists of prospective legislators.

All eligible Indonesians will cast their votes next May to elect members to the House and legislative council.

Zumaidy said the institute is still unable to say exactly how many prospective legislators have passed the screening process, how many are still being evaluated, how many are yet to be screened and how many have been rejected.

"Just be patient. We will announce the figures when evaluations are completed," he said. (imn)