Elections committee's members request transportation fees

JAKARTA (JP): Members of the Jakarta Provincial Elections Committee (PPD I) have asked Governor Sutiyoso to provide them with transportation costs, chairman Djafar Badjeber said on Friday.

Djafar said any such financial assistance, if approved by Sutiyoso, would not violate any rules, because all the PPD I members "had worked long days and nights".

"As chairman of the committee, I will fight for the opinions of my colleagues. They deserve the money," he told The Jakarta Post.

He said the request to the governor was made in an official letter sent "a long time ago".

In the letter, the PPD I only asked for "transportation incentives".

"We did not mention the amount," Djafar from the United Development Party (PPP) said.

"It will be totally up to Governor Sutiyoso. It's just a request. We are not forcing (this). It'll be okay if he refuses to meet our request."

Sutiyoso said on Thursday he had received the PPD I letter, which was signed by Djafar.

The committee's letter said "transportation incentives are needed because the parties lack funds", the governor said.

When asked to comment on reports that he had provided Rp 5 million to each of the 48 political party representatives at PPD I to speed up the vote counting process, Sutiyoso denied the accusation: "It's 100 percent wrong."

Vote counting in the capital has been delayed on several occasions, because of claims by the minor parties of irregularities.

Their position appeared to soften on Wednesday, when it was agreed that the official reports on the vote result would be signed, but with additional notes.

The process was delayed again on Friday due to further complaints made by representatives from the minor parties over the alleged voting irregularities.

Some of the representatives were subsequently expelled from a closed door meeting.

A reliable source attending the meeting said members were discussing media reports on the governor's alleged Rp 5 million financial assistance to each of the PPD I members.

Djafar, however, denied the suggestion, saying the party's representatives only discussed internal problems.

Djafar promised that signing of the official reports of the vote results in the city would be held on Saturday.

"God willing, if everything runs smoothly tomorrow (Saturday) we will no longer delay the signing.".(ind)