Govt allows civil servants to serve as poll workers

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government will allow civil servants to serve as poll workers (PPS/PPK/KPPS) in the upcoming regional elections, retracting its previous policy that was meant to minimize the involvement of the government in elections.

Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf said on Tuesday that State Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment Taufik Effendy has issued a circular declaring that civil servants may serve as poll workers under two conditions: they must maintain their neutrality, and must obtain permission from their respective supervisors.

The circular was issued on Monday and has been sent to regional administrations and local branches of the General Elections Commission (KPU) across the country.

"There have been multiple interpretations (about the previous circular). There are no laws banning civil servants becoming PPS or PPK. The most important thing is that they are able to remain neutral. Go ahead," Ma'ruf said.

Earlier, on March 31, Taufik issued a circular banning the involvement of civil servants in the organization of the regional elections.

Ma'ruf earlier raised his objection to the issuance of the circular following protests from several regions, which have already appointed civil servants as poll workers.

Most poll workers are civil servants, including employees of regional administrations and teachers.

They argued that there would be no time to get new poll workers as the deadline for the first direct regional elections is approaching.

Ma'ruf said that there would be seven provinces and 174 regencies/mayoralties across the country ready to hold regional elections by June.

"As many as 181 provinces, regencies and mayoralties will be ready to hold elections in June," Ma'ruf asserted.

So far only three provinces, including Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Papua and West Irian Jaya, have decided to postpone regional elections.

The election for governor, and elections of regents and mayoralties in some areas in Aceh, will also be postponed as life has yet to return to normal there after last year's tsunami.

As for Papua and West Irian Jaya, the postponement is because both provinces has yet to form the Papua Representatives Assembly (MRP) as mandated by law.

The government has issued a government regulation in lieu of law to enable regions to postpone elections for various reasons, including natural disasters and lack of funds, as the existing Law No. 32/2004 on regional administrations does not stipulate reasons for postponement.

A presidential decree is essential for the postponement of regional elections for governor, while a ministerial decree from the Ministry of Home Affairs is required for the postponement of elections for regents and mayors.

The postponement must be decided by the regional office of the General Elections Commission (KPUD).

Meanwhile, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on Indonesians not to cause security disruptions during the regional elections.

"If all the regional elections, which are taking place at the same time, are disrupted by unfavorable factors, then the growing perception that our country is good, just, safe and democratic will collapse," he said, while opening the IV National Meeting of the Association of Regional Council Leaders at the State Palace.