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)