Elections commission a crisis in waiting

Ong Hock Chuan, Partner, PT Maverick Solusi Komunikasi, Jakarta

Denial is the main cause of crises in organizations. If all the media reports about the General Elections Commission (KPU) are even half right the KPU is exhibiting such behavior and courting a crisis when polling begins on April 5.

Denial comes in many forms, among then are a refusal to acknowledge the situation as it is, painting an overly optimistic picture of a less-than-desirable situation, being defensive and resorting to threats instead of acknowledging and working a problem out with its partners.

A clear warning signal that the KPU may be acting in denial was sounded in the front page of Kompas daily newspaper on March 17 with the headline "KPU's optimism needs some honesty". The article quotes members of the Electoral Oversight Committee as saying that unless the KPU was more honest about its shortcomings it would lead to a politicization of results even if there were minor problems with the vote counting.

The Committee also warned that KPU's excessive optimism would dilute other parties' willingness to help KPU out of its problems.

This is good advice that KPU should take. It is very clear that its behavior pattern is that of an organization in denial. Persisting in this behavior will alienate whatever goodwill it has remaining and make it a sitting duck the moment the voting process hits a glitch.

It would not be so bad if the KPU were the only victim in the probable event of a vote count gone awry. Unfortunately, the stakes are much, much higher. And there are serious doubts about the accuracy of the votes counted within the time frame promised by the KPU there could be political mayhem.

This is because the parties are now expecting the KPU's computerized vote counting system to deliver 80 percent of the results within nine hours from the close of polling. This projection will therefore ultimately influence their choice for the presidential candidates.

With so much at stake for the country the KPU should waste no time in taking stock of its own shortcomings and begin addressing them.

One of the biggest favors it could do itself is to come clean about its deficiencies, set new and lower expectations by the public about its deliverables and ask for understanding and help.

History has shown that the public is very willing to forgive individuals or organizations that act responsibly and openly, even if they have committed a huge booboo. History also instructs that those who refuse to take responsibility for their actions and act in denial remain unforgiving.

John F. Kennedy's admission of a mistake over the Bay of Pigs fiasco is an example of the former case. The American public not only forgave him but also continued to support him once he came clean. Nixon's continued and persistent denials resulted in him impeached and disgraced.

There is no shame for the KPU to admit if many of its objectives are falling behind schedule. Everyone knows that it is no small task making the electoral system work because of Indonesia's geography and demographics. There are over 145 million voters in 5,120 districts spread over 18,306 islands, some of which do not have even basic facilities such as electricity and telecommunications support.

It is a big job, beyond the ability of a single agency. If the KPU was open about how difficult it is, where it is falling behind and to ask for help it will receive at least the understanding if not the help from organizations and individuals.

The KPU should also start lowering the high expectations that it has created for itself if there is a high likelihood that it cannot meet its deadlines.

This is especially important when it comes to the computerized vote counting process because The KPU has given the impression in its statements that the public can view the majority of the results in nine hours after polling closes on April 5.

Given the KPU's track record, first with ballot boxes and now with managing its logistics, it is fair to question whether the results would be in by nine hours. It is also fair to question whether the computerized system is as secure from hackers, virus attacks and vote manipulation as the KPU claims.

Several IT observers have already pointed out that the personnel in charge of data entry and other facets of the technology are not well trained. If they are correct, then the KPU needs to be less optimistic about when it can deliver the results or the integrity of the vote counting process. It needs to begin communicating and conditioning the public on this issue. Failure to do so is to court the ire of the political parties and the public.

The KPU has actually done quite well, given the fact that this is but Indonesia's second round of free elections. It is certainly not perfect but right thinking people expect and can forgive an organization for many inadequacies that come with doing something new. They, however, will not be so charitable if that organization has been misleading them with excessive optimism and an inability to own up to the facts.

There is more than two weeks to go for the KPU to manage expectations and get things right. It should seize this opportunity to communicate well and reset expectations or face a crisis of its own making.

Maverick is a public relations consultancy specializing in issues and crisis management