Film problem causes delay in ballot paper printing

Film problem causes delay in ballot paper printing

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With only 37 days before the legislative election, the General
Elections Commission (KPU) is still facing huge problems in
completing the films for ballot paper printing.

KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said on Friday that 69
ballot paper films for the House of Representatives had already
gone to print.

"We have still not completed 32 films for ballot papers for
the Regional Representatives candidates. We have set the deadline
to finish the film, but I cannot confirm it," he told reporters
on Friday.

The commission will produce over 2,000 films to print the
ballot papers for the House, DPD, provincial and regental
legislatures.

The legislative election will be held on April 5, followed by
the presidential election on July 5 and a possible runoff on
Sept. 20.

He went on to say that validating the film had slowed down the
printing process.

KPU deputy secretary-general Sussongko Suhardjo, who signs
working contracts with firms that win tenders for KPU projects,
said that only 14 films had been delivered to printing companies
so far.

A total of 18 printing consortia, each consisting of three to
five printing firms, have been appointed by KPU to print 660
million ballot papers.

Sussongko said the working mechanism in the film making was
not running well.

He also said he had not yet signed any working contracts with
film providers State Printing Company (PNRI) and Grafitec.

"Without working contracts, we cannot do anything if there is
mistake made by film providers," he said.

The slow film making has forced the KPU to delay the printing
of ballot papers several times, which was supposed to start on
Feb. 1, 2004.

The films must soon be delivered to the 18 printing consortia,
so that they can print 660 million ballot papers and distribute
them to regencies and municipalities by March 15 at the latest.

According to the KPU schedule, the ballot papers must reach
polling stations on March 25 at the latest.

Separately, KPU member Chusnul Mar'iyah, who handles elections
logistics, said she had set March 5 for the printing consortia to
finish the printing of ballot papers.

She refused to elaborate on alternative plans if the printing
consortia failed to meet the March 5 deadline.

But as most films had not been completed and the printing
consortia needed three to five days to complete the printing, it
is very unlikely they would be able to meet the March 5 deadline.

The problems of film-making and ballot paper printing will
surely affect the distribution schedule.

Earlier, KPU faced problems in holding tenders for ballot
boxes and indelible ink.

Ballot box tender winner PT Survindo Indah Prestasi had failed
to meet its December deadline, forcing KPU to split the job
between Tjakrindo Mas and Almas.

In the indelible ink tender, most bidders were proven
financially unsound. Several of the tender winners also have weak
financial capability to import ink.

KPU finally appointed three local ink producers to test local
ink for the legislative election.

In the 1999 elections, locally produced ink was washed off in
less than three days.