KPU impartiality questioned in Medan

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

Direct regional elections in 13 regencies and municipalities in North Sumatra on June 27 proceeded peacefully, even though the elections had to be delayed for three days in Sibolga city due to inadequate distribution of voter cards.

Some General Elections Commissions (KPU) in respective cities and regencies have already announced results of the direct elections, the first in the country's history. Six regional leaders were reelected, including Medan Mayor Abdillah.

Although the KPU has officially declared winners in the elections, many are questioning the legitimacy of their victory. Political observers are of the opinion that some winners were not 100 percent clean in the manner that they campaigned.

"The KPU played an important role in helping certain candidates win the elections," said Sublihar, the dean of the school of social and political science at the North Sumatra University.

There were indications that the KPU had taken sides in the elections, said Sublihar. The Medan KPUD, for example, had canceled planned debates for Medan mayoral candidates.

Sublihar alleged that the debate was canceled for fear that incumbent mayor Abdillah, who has carried out several controversial policies during his tenure, would lose votes.

Among the controversial policies was a budget allocation that raised public concern.

This year, the Medan mayoralty administration under Abdillah earmarked Rp 114 billion (US$11.7 million) for park management offices, while offices for public works, health, cooperatives and education, which are much more important, were only allocated Rp 62 billion.

Besides canceling the debate, the Medan KPU also put forward the schedule for the announcement of Medan election results.

According to the schedule, the victory of the Abdillah-Ramli team was supposed to be announced on July 5, but for no reason it was suddenly announced on July 3.

The move was condemned by many, including the campaign team of Abdillah and Ramli rival's Maulana and Sigit. In protest, Maulana and Sigit refused to attend the announcement of the Medan election results.

Head of the Maulana-Sigit campaign team, Ikrimah Hamidy, said that the KPU had taken sides and had therefore caused them losses. However, chairman of Medan KPU, Nelly Armayanti, denied that the KPU had taken sides in the elections. She said that the KPU had tried hard to maintain neutrality and impartiality during the elections.

Contacted separately, chairman of North Sumatra KPU, Irham Buana Nasution, said that KPU members should be neutral during elections. He said that the North Sumatra KPU would investigate alleged KPU partiality during the Medan elections and stern punishment would be imposed on those members of Medan KPU who supported any particular candidates in the elections.