KPU selecting ink suppliers

JAKARTA: The General Elections Commission (KPU) is currently selecting a number of companies to supply the ink that will be used to mark the hands of voters in the 2004 general election.

Ramlan Surbakti, the deputy chairman of the commission, said on Friday that nine firms had expressed interest in submitting bids.

They were PT Citra Manunggal Karsa, PT Suresh G Vaswani, CV Benda Utama, PT Garvine Intas, Mohammad Bai Ronuddin, PT Amacom Indonesia, PT Ita Moko Ruben, PT Metro Corporation and PT Mega Buana Internasional/PT Agung Jati Selaras.

The nine firms have already shown their products to the commission, but it has yet to name the winning bidders.

Among the criteria adopted by the commission in selecting the winning bidders are the quality of the products and punctuality of deliveries, said Ramlan.

In the 1999 election, the commission used ink that was produced by an Indian company. This ink was still visible on the hands of voters after several days.

Marking the hands of voters is important to avoid double voting during the general election. Those who have cast votes have their hands marked with the ink, which alerts polling officials if they attempt to vote a second time. -- JP