KPU set to reduce supervisory body's electoral authority

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta

In an apparent move to diminish the authority of the official Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu), the General Elections Commission (KPU) said on Wednesday that it would scrap some of the committee's functions in a planned regulatory revision.

KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said its members had agreed that substantial changes must be made to KPU Regulation No. 88/2003 on Panwaslu to draw "a better performance" from the institution.

The KPU has complained of its lack of commitment in applying its authority, leading to ineffective penalties for violations of the election laws.

Among the proposed changes are that the committee be empowered to resolve only those disputes between electoral contestants.

"In the case of the presidential election, the Panwaslu has the authority to handle complaints and disputes involving only presidential candidates. They will have no authority to handle issues arising between the commission and candidates," he said.

The supervisory committee recently ruled that National Awakening Party (PKB) candidate Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's challenge against a KPU ruling that disqualified him from the race constituted a KPU-candidate dispute.

In future, the committee would also be obliged to work meticulously in presenting its cases. "In filing complaints on electoral violations to law enforcers, the Panwaslu must have a strong basis, meaning that it has to collect as much hard evidence as possible," Ramlan said.

The KPU also seeks to require that the committee submit a progress report upon request, which would be a radical departure from the regulation, which stipulates that the committee is required to submit a report only at the end of its term.

Ramlan added that the committee would work only within those guidelines set by the KPU, as all regulatory power rested with the elections commission.

"The Panwaslu is only allowed to make certain regulatory interpretations as determined by the election laws and KPU rulings," he said.

He said the elections commission would send a draft revision to the Panwaslu and expected to receive a response next week.

Ramlan brushed aside suggestions that the revision was intended to weaken the official supervisory committee.

"Such an accusation can only arise if we harbored suspicions about one another. We have good intentions," he said.

Earlier, however, a number of Panwaslu members threatened to quit their posts, should the KPU press ahead with its planned revisions.

Article 120 of General Elections Law No. 12/2003 stipulates that the KPU has ultimate authority over the Panwaslu, including its establishment and dissolution.

Relations between the KPU and Panwaslu have deteriorated in the months following the April 5 legislative election and in the run-up to July 5 presidential election.

Panwaslu chairman Komaruddin Hidayat has said previously that none of the committee's recommendations on electoral fraud had been heeded by the KPU.