KPU urged to repeat tenders over alleged nontransparent decision
KPU urged to repeat tenders over alleged nontransparent decision
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Five months before the 2004 elections, a group of companies has
urged the General Elections Commission (KPU) to repeat its tender
for aluminum ballot boxes.
The companies alleged that the tender the KPU had conducted
was not transparent when it gave the contract to PT Survindo
Indah Prestasi to make 2.1 million boxes at the cost of Rp 324
billion (about US$ 382 million).
Three consortiums submitted a letter of complaint on Friday to
the KPU saying it had failed to make a background check on
Survindo factories or its consortium members. The consortia were
led by PT Borimex, PT Tjakrindo Mas and PT Phun Deang who had all
lost the tender.
They alleged Survindo and its consortium members had
questionable data in terms of their addresses and the
capabilities of their factories.
"Some of Survindo consortium members are fictitious," said
Johannes Simangunson, marketing director of Phun Deang.
He also said that KPU had not tested the strength of the
ballot boxes.
The letter was signed by, among others, Peter Utomo of
Borimex, Jackson Kumaat of Tjakrindo Mas, and Johannes
Simangunson of Phun Deang.
Survindo denied the allegations in a press briefing later on
Friday, saying that any allegation should be made based on
evidence.
But Survindo executive director Sihol Manullang faltered when
asked whether KPU had checked all of its consortium members.
He said that Survindo had won the tender based on its merits
and not based on bribery.
He also said that Survindo had a production capacity of 4.5
million ballot boxes, far above the 2.1 million ballot boxes
required by KPU.
Survindo led a consortium consisting of 11 other firms.
Earlier on Thursday, Jakarta Development Watch (Jadewa) held a
protest in front of the KPU office, accusing Survindo of bribing
KPU members and staff to win the tender.
Concerned Society for the General Elections (Mapelu) also
accused KPU of corruption in the ballot box tender.
KPU announced Survindo as the winner of the tender on
Wednesday with a total score of 92 during the administrative and
technical evaluation and with a quotation of Rp 311 billion.
The five latest contenders -- Borimex with a score of 53,
Tjakrindo Mas (66), Phun Deang (35), Elang Satria Jaya Abadi (49)
and Almas (55) failed to qualify for the quotation stage as they
scored below the minimum of 80.
Mulyana W. Kusumah said he had not received the complaint
letter and KPU was open to any new complaints and findings.
He invited outsiders to file any findings with the commission
that are related to a possible violation of the tender.
He also called on any party that alleged KPU was guilty of
corruption during the tender to file a report with the police,
otherwise their allegations would only be considered libel.
Meanwhile, Pudjo Tjahjono of Wahyu Abadi also questioned the
KPU procedure in selecting Pura Barutama as the winner of the
voter registration card tender.
He said that Wahyu Abadi, which obtained a score of 62 based
on the KPU evaluation, should have got a higher score.