KPUD delays announcing DPD candidates again
KPUD delays announcing DPD candidates again
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The local General Elections Commission (KPUD) in Jakarta once
again delayed on Wednesday its announcement of the names of the
candidates eligible to stand next year for the Regional
Representatives Council.
Jakarta KPUD chairman M. Taufik said the commission's members
needed to reassess the documents submitted by a number of
candidates before the list of DPD candidates is announced to the
public on Thursday. Earlier, a number of signatures on nomination
papers were found to be forged, and some candidates had forged
documents evidencing their education.
"Because this relates to the interest of the public, we must
be very careful in making decisions," Taufik told The Jakarta
Post.
The Jakarta KPUD had previously announced the names of eight
parties that had failed to meet the requirements for
participating in next year's elections. A number of executives of
these parties then threatened to bring their "supporters" out on
to the streets to protest the KPUD decision. Taufik denied
suggestions that the latest delay was linked to these threats.
A total of 575 people obtained DPD registration forms from the
KPUD but only forms were returned or fulfilled the requirements.
Only 74 candidates met the administrative requirements, but one
later withdrew.
KPUD members conducted factual verification in respect of the
73 remaining candidates last month to further check up on the
applicants' qualifications.
According to Taufik, less than 40 candidates passed the final
verification stage. He said that most had failed because the
people whom they claimed to be their supports denied this when
asked by verification officers.
He said some candidates used fake school diplomas in their
applications while there were indications that others had
resorted to bribery.
For the first time, the residents of each province will
directly elect candidates to the DPD during the legislative
elections slated for April 5.
Four candidates will be elected from each of the country's 32
provinces. Under the country's new constitutional arrangements,
the DPD together with the 550-member House of Representatives
will jointly constitute the People's Consultative Assembly.
Noted figures taking part in the DPD race in Jakarta include
businessman Pontjo Sutowo, legislator Aberson M. Sihaloho, former
environment minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, former student
activist Hariman Siregar, rally driver Helmy Sungkar and
entrepreneurs Mooryati Soedibyo and Kemala Motik.
Several Betawi (native Jakartan) figures, such as the chairman
of the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) Fadloli El Muhir, Muslim
preacher Soerjani Tohir and Biem T. Benyamin, son of the late
actor Benyamin Sueb, also plan to run.