KPU to probe flaws in elections preparations

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After a series of problems in the provision of election materials, the General Elections Commission (KPU) said it would establish two working committees to monitor and investigate possible mistakes in the preparation for the elections.

KPU member Mulyana W. Kusumah said one of the working committees would focus on the tenders to provide election materials, which will be led by Chusnul Mar'iyah, and the other would oversee financial and organizational affairs which will be led by Daan Dimara.

"The working committees will not only monitor the problems in the preparation, but also take strict measures in response to problems in the procurement of election materials and financial and organizational affairs," Mulyana said.

Citing an example, he said the committee would take actions against any party found to be deliberately, or through negligence, hindering the preparation by delaying the production, delivery and distribution of voting materials.

"If there is enough evidence that officials at the KPU have been involved in retarding the process, they will be given administrative punishment and tried in a court of law," he asserted.

Indonesia will hold legislative elections on April 5 and a direct presidential election on July 5, with a possible run-off on Sept. 20.

The incomplete process of printing the ballot papers is beginning to become a serious concern.

Mulyana said the KPU would cut the contract given to winners of the tender to print the ballot papers if the commission found the companies exaggerated their capacity.

KPU, he said, would not allow those companies to subcontract the printing job.

The commission has declared 18 companies the winners of the tender to print 660 million ballot papers. They will print 13 types of ballot papers for the election of the House of Representatives, the Regional Representatives Council and provincial and regental/municipal legislator hopefuls.

Mulyana's statement came after tender winners Temprina Media Grafika, State Printing Company (PNRI) and Pundimas Putra Indojaya claimed on Wednesday they had been asked by fellow tender winners to be subcontractors for their printing jobs. The three companies turned down the offers.

Separately, KPU member Valina Singka Subekti said the timetable of the distribution of ballot papers would be re- arranged following the delays.

Despite the delays, KPU chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin expressed his optimism that all election materials would arrive in polling stations by March 25 at the latest.

"Although a number of ballot papers have not been printed, many others have been. So far, I am not worried about the 2004 election materials," he said.