Firms start printing millions of ballot papers

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

At least two printing firms started printing the first of millions of ballot papers on Sunday, but doubts remain as to whether all the ballot papers needed can reach polling stations in time as they have already been delayed by nearly a month.

At least two firms, Temprina Media Grafika and Pabelan Cerdas Nusantara, said on Saturday they would start printing on Sunday since they had received the negative film templates for the ballots.

"We have received the order to print the first 50 million ballot papers, and we will complete the job in three days," Mufti Mubarok, Temprina spokesman, told the Jakarta Post.

Temprina is responsible for printing ballot papers for the election of members to the House of Representatives and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) from electoral districts in East Java, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara and Papua.

Mufti said he was informed by KPU officials that the film for the ballots for the members of provincial (DPRD) and regency/municipality legislatures would be ready by Tuesday, and his firm would start printing the remaining papers next week.

Pabelan senior executive Agung S also said his company had received at least one negative for the House and DPD members in electoral districts in Maluku, allowing his company to begin the printing on Sunday.

"I have been informed that the blank paper from Surabaya are now being transported to my printing company in Surakarta (Central Java)," he said.

Pabelan, which obtained an order to print 35 million ballot papers, will print ballot papers for half of Central Java province, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara, North Maluku and Maluku.

"We will meet the deadline to print all ballot papers for the elections of the members of the House and DPD in 10 days and the remaining papers for the election of regional legislature members in another 10 days," he said.

Pundimas Putra Indojaya, which is responsible for printing nine million, received the film on Monday, and a company director said the printing would start on Tuesday and finish in five days.

A total of 660 million ballot papers are needed for the April 5 election, wherein voters will have to choose House, DPD, DPRD and regency/municipality legislators.

KPU has said the papers must reach regency offices by March 15 and polling stations by March 25 at the latest.