House seat should be vacant: KPU says

JAKARTA: The General Elections Commission (KPU) said on Wednesday that the House of Representatives' seat from the West Irian Jaya electoral district should be left vacant, following a row between the Christian-based Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) and the United Democratic Nationhood Party (PPDK).

KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said the Constitutional Court decision, which awarded the House seat to candidate Saut M. Hasibuan of the PDS, at the expense of the PPDK, could not be revoked by any regulation.

The PDS central board had agreed to relinquish the seat awarded by the court after learning that vote-rigging had taken place to swell the votes for Saut. However, the dismayed PPDK candidate could not recoup the seat. -- JP