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.