Jakartans line up to register for June 7 election

JAKARTA (JP): After two days marked by a wait-and-see attitude, thousands of Jakartans on Wednesday were seen queuing at voter registration points across the capital to register for the June 7 general election.

Several subdistrict heads told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday the number of people registering would exceed those recorded the previous day, when an average of 1,000 residents registered themselves in each of the city's 265 subdistricts.

"I think political parties played a big role in encouraging people, especially their followers, to participate in the registration poll process," said Dudung Abdullah, head of the Jelambar Baru subdistrict in West Jakarta.

On Tuesday, 1,792 registrants in the subdistrict, home to 28,103 eligible voters, were processed.

In Kebon Sirih subdistrict in Central Jakarta, officials at 10 registration places had processed 10 percent of the 1,320 eligible voters in the area on Tuesday.

A registration official in the subdistrict, Hanafi Sab'ie, said judging from the great number of enthusiastic voters seen at registration points, the number of registrants for the upcoming poll would be further increased by late Wednesday.

"We do this purely for the sake of our future. We just hope that there will be no riots or (other) commotion," said a senior resident as he proudly displayed his registration form.

The Tomang subdistrict also reported an increase in registrants on Wednesday, after receiving 10 percent of some 25,000 eligible voters in the area the previous day.

Subdistrict head Yanto Safiar said community leaders in the area had been active -- through houses of worship -- in encouraging eligible voters to register.

The capital, with an official estimated 9.7 million residents, is expected to contribute 5.8 million ballots in the poll.

Inadequate preparation marred the first registration day on Monday as register officials (Gastarlih) were unable to carry out their tasks. Some residents attempting to register were rejected.

Due to the confusion, many eligible voters in the capital decided to take a wait-and-see attitude to avoid wasting time at registration points.

In an effort to encourage people to visit the registration locations, Jakarta chapter party executives said on Tuesday they would actively mobilize party members and other residents to voluntarily register for the election.

The registration period will last until April 12. The second and final chance for the registration will take place between April 30 to May 4.

Since Tuesday, Gastarlih from several subdistricts, including Kebon Sirih, Tomang, Jelambar Baru and South Jakarta's Pondok Indah and Gandaria, manned booths until late at night to provide an opportunity for residents unable to register during working hours.

Dudung from Jelambar Baru said registration locations in his area were open until 10.00 p.m.

"Gastarlih should work in shifts. The step should be taken as quite a large number of our residents are working people," he said.

Several subdistrict heads in East Jakarta mayoralty said on Wednesday they were obliged to purchase a Rp 100,000 stamp for the registration forms from the mayoralty office of social and political affairs.

One of the subdistrict heads in Pulogadung district said he was forced to purchase the stamp to avoid delaying the registration process in his area.

Head of the Jakarta Provincial Elections Committee Djafar Badjeber said he had yet to receive reports confirming the sales.

"We'll check it soon. There is no question that I will take severe action if the report is true," he said.

East Jakarta Mayor Andi Mapagganty said the sale of the stamps had been agreed to by local subdistrict heads, the Subdistrict Polling Committee and officials from the mayoralty office of social and political affairs.

"(The subdistrict heads bought the stamps) because they required them immediately and paid for them with their own money, not (monies allocated) from the subdistrict budget," Mapagganty said.

Separately, Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi said on Wednesday the city administration would soon provide all Jakarta chapters of the 48 eligible political parties with funds for the procurement of party stickers, posters, billboards, banners and flags.

He said all parties were obliged to strictly follow guidelines stipulated by the administration on where and how to display the materials to avoid a "war of fixtures" among contestants.

The administration had designated 200 locations in the capital to be used for displaying party flags, he said.

"Each spot will be filled with flags from each of the 48 parties plus two of the country's national (red-and-white) flags, which would be hoisted in between the parties' flags."

The guidelines for the posting of party stickers, posters, billboards and banners have yet to be finalized, he said. (ind/ylt)