KPU impartiality questioned in Medan

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.