Government submits general elections bill to the House
Government submits general elections bill to the House
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi Soedirdja
submitted to the House of Representatives on Thursday the general
elections bill which recommends that the government set up an
independent election commission.
During the House plenary session to hear the first reading of
the bill, Surjadi openly labeled the current General Elections
Commission (KPU) not independent and partisan.
Established last year during the term of former president B.J.
Habibie, the present KPU comprises representatives of 48 parties
which contested the 1999 polls and five government
representatives. It has long been criticized for internal
bickering and allegedly misusing funds.
The Supreme Audit Agency reported recently that alleged
corruption within the commission had cost the government over Rp
5 billion.
Surjadi said the new elections commission would consist of
just nine members in order to emulate its counterparts in
developed countries.
"The members of the new KPU should have no links to any
political party and be known publicly for his or her integrity,"
he said.
House Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar, who presided over the
session, promised that the bill would be endorsed by the end of
May.
"Since the KPU matter is urgent, we will work hard to finish
the deliberation of the bill as quickly as possible," Muhaimin
from the National Awakening Party (PKB) said.
If passed, the bill would replace the one-year-old Election
Law endorsed prior to the polls in June last year.
Muhaimin suggested that President Abdurrahman Wahid issue a
decree to freeze the current KPU to pave the way for an
investigation into alleged corruption practices in the
commission.
KPU member representing the government Andi A. Malarangeng
shared Muhaimin's view, asking the police and prosecutor's office
to seal the commission.
"The police should close down the commission to prevent any
attempt to destroy evidence of the graft case," Andi, who is also
an expert staff member at the Office of the State Minister of
Regional Autonomy, said.
He said the earlier moves by certain KPU members, who set up a
honorary council and a presidium to replace retiring chairman
Rudini, were illegal since Rudini's resignation bid had not yet
been accepted.
KPU members, mostly from small parties, named Djuhad Mahdja
from the United Development Party (PPP), Agus Miftach from the
Indonesian People's Party (Pari) and Benny Mustapha from the
Indonesian Workers Party (PPI) the collective chairmen following
Rudini's announcement of his resignation.
The commission also appointed outspoken Sri Bintang Pamungkas,
who is also chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Union Party
(PUDI), to the top post of the commission's honorary council.
(jun)