Elections commission defies court ruling
Elections commission defies court ruling
JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Commission (KPU) announced
on Friday that it would endorse 65 elected representatives of the
interest group faction in the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR), despite a court ruling which called for a delay.
Agus Miftach, who chairs the KPU 15-member team in charge of
electing the 65 MPR legislators, told The Jakarta Post on Friday
that the commission would formally announce its approval on
Monday.
"We don't have to abide by the verdict, because it remains a
provisional ruling which is not binding," Agus said.
The Jakarta State Administrative Court ordered the KPU on
Thursday to delay the endorsement, pending a review of its
decision to select five youth representatives from organizations
other than the government-sanctioned Indonesian National Youth
Committee.
Another KPU member, Djuhad Mahja of the United Development
Party (PPP), told the Post the commission could appeal the ruling
to the Jakarta State Administrative High Court.
"The state administrative court doesn't have real authority to
enforce its verdict," Djuhad said, adding that in the meantime
the commission's decision would stand.
In yet one more instance of the KPU's rule-breaking
tendencies, the commission announced on Thursday that all
political parties with a lone seat at the House would be allowed
to ignore the Election Law ruling which stipulates that a House
member must represent his or her constituency.
The KPU decision has made way for Indonesian National Party-
Marhaen chairman Probosutedjo, a stepbrother of former president
Soeharto, and Democratic Catholic Party (PKD) chairman Markus
Wally to qualify for the House, despite both men's failure to
obtain enough votes in their respective constituencies.
KPU chairman Rudini said the controversial decision was aimed
at absorbing the aspirations of political parties.
According to the Election Law, a legislative candidate is
allowed to forfeit his or her seat only to fellow party members
from the same province.
"It will be a bad precedent and a bad political education for
the public too," Mustafa Kamal of the Justice Party (PK), one of
the KPU members opposing the decision, said as quoted by Antara.
Minor parties welcomed the decision. Mardin Syah of the United
Party (PP) and Rusly Dahlan of the Independence Vanguard Party
(IPKI) told the Post separately that they interpreted the ruling
as a political compromise.
"The parties have only one seat each, so let them arrange
their sole seat for their best representatives," said Rusly.
Mardin said the decision was not intended to delay the
induction ceremony on Oct. 1 of new House members. (05)