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)