KPU selects four firms for ballot printing

KPU selects four firms for ballot printing

M. Taufiqurrahman and Abdul Khalik, Jakarta

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has picked the first four
firms to print at least 151 million ballot papers for the
presidential election.

Emerging from closed-door negotiations with the companies, KPU
member Hamid Awaluddin said PT Temprint, PT Temprina Media
Grafika, PT Kartika Naya and printing giant PT Gramedia were the
first four firms to be awarded the printing job.

Hamid, who is in charge of the ballot paper procurement, said
the KPU was still negotiating with other firms on the list of 17
tender winners in the legislative election.

"The four companies did not have any problem in fulfilling the
printing order for ballot papers for the April 5 legislative
election. They have proven that they can complete their work on
time and of good quality. And more importantly, they did not
subcontract," Hamid told a press briefing here.

He said if the deals were finalized with the four firms, they
could immediately obtain the ballot paper template and start the
printing job on Friday.

The four firms were selected as they operate at least two
four-color processing printing machines.

Hamid, however, refused to disclose the price agreed upon
between the KPU and the firms.

"This is not a tender, so we did not choose the firms based on
price," he said.

Some firms that won the contract to print ballot papers for
the legislative election admitted to enjoying huge profits as the
KPU set a far higher price than what the firms actually spent per
sheet.

Hamid said all companies granted the printing job for the July
5 election were expected to complete the printing in 10 days.

"The printing is expected to be completed in seven days and
another three days will be given for packaging," he said.

Despite the glitches in the procurement of ballot papers for
the legislative election, KPU will not closely supervise the
printing of ballot papers for the presidential election.

"We will only deploy the KPU staff members. Our internal
supervision division will assume the supervisory role," Hamid
said.

He said that far-flung regions of the country would be
prioritized for distribution to prevent another delay in the poll
due to logistical problems.

The KPU has set the size of the ballot papers for the July
election at 26 cm by 47 cm, with full color for the front page
and two colors for the back page.

The latest data from the Central Statistics Agency revealed
over 151 million eligible voters have been registered for the
first direct presidential election ever to be held in the
country.

The commission required some 660 million ballot papers for the
legislative elections, costing taxpayers more than Rp 180 billion
(US$20 million).

Separately, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the
police as of May 22 had beefed up security across the country by
deploying two thirds of its force. Poso in Central Sulawesi,
Ambon in Maluku, Papua and Aceh will be the areas under close
watch.

He said bomb squad personnel had been sent to Ambon as blasts
continue to rock the troubled city. No new reinforcement will be
sent to Poso, but a considerable number of personnel are on alert
in Makassar in South Sulawesi.

Da'i said more police would be deployed to Papua, with the
police still smarting from a shortage of security personnel in
the easternmost province during the legislative election.

"Some of our personnel were shot by separatist group members
during the legislative election and we were outnumbered by the
attackers," said Da'i.