Four million voters now registered in capital

Four million voters now registered in capital

JAKARTA (JP): Over four million city residents, or about 78
percent of total eligible voters, have registered for the June 7
general election, chairman of the Jakarta Provincial Elections
Committee (PPD I) Djafar Badjeber said on Monday.

Djafar said the large number of registrants showed pessimism
about the implementation of the elections was groundless.

"This shows that Jakartans support the elections and thus we
have to help it succeed," he said.

Sunday was the final day for registration officials to visit
the houses of voters, especially those living in remote areas or
others who were unable to register themselves.

Based on the General Elections Commission (KPU) schedule,
those voters who still have not registered will be allowed to
register from April 30 to May 4.

Djafar said the total figure of registrants was 4,366,954.
East Jakarta had the largest number of voters register, with
1,223,118 registrants, or 87.71 percent of total eligible voters
in the area.

South Jakarta followed with 993,838 registrants, or 81.02
percent of eligible voters, followed by West Jakarta with 936,788
registrants, or 84.04 percent of eligible voters, North Jakarta
with 693,800 registrants, or 75.85 percent of those eligible to
vote, and Central Jakarta with 519,110 registrants, or 72.03
percent of eligible voters in the area.

Djafar said there was a sharp increase in the number of
registered voters over the last week. On April 12, the final day
of voluntary registration, only 2.65 million people, or 46
percent of eligible voters in the city, had registered, he said.

He also said there would be no campaigning in the city during
the first day of the 17-day campaign period starting on May 19
because the 48 political parties eligible to contest the
elections would use that day to hand out their party symbols to
the people.

"On that day (May 19) each of the parties at the mayoralty
level will deploy two trucks decorated with their respective
symbols and flags to the National Monument (Monas), before the
trucks drive throughout the city," he said.

"But parties are forbidden from carrying people in the
vehicles," he said.

Djafar said this was needed to create unity among the poll
contestants and to avoid "unwanted things from happening".

However, he said PPD I had not yet finished formulating the
campaign rules, which call for three parties to campaign in the
city in one day, because there are only 18 days for campaigning
and 48 poll contestants.

The dissemination of the parties' symbols on the first day of
the campaign period will be marked by the raising of the parties'
flags.

The administration has allocated Rp 2 million for the 5,184
party flags and 216 national flags, to be raised at 108 locations
on main thoroughfares throughout the city.

Toha Reno of the public order office said that party flags
already being displayed would be removed to prevent the city from
becoming crowded with "unofficial" party flags.

"The removal will be conducted by public order officials, with
the help of representatives from political parties," Toha said.

"This is necessary to prevent the city's streets and
thoroughfares becoming crowded with flags and spoiling the city's
image."

An official of the office, who requested anonymity, said the
tender to supply the flags to be raised on May 19 would most
likely to be won by private firm PT Global Pro.

"Flags will be ready by May 17," the official said.

Each flag to be raised is projected to cost Rp 370,370.

According to a flag seller in Tanah Abang, Siti Habsah, this
price is too high because flags are sold at between Rp 85,000 and
Rp 175,000 and flag poles cost Rp 75,000 each. (ylt/ind)