KPUD seeks emergency funds

BANDUNG: With the passage of a presidential decree on emergency poll funds, the West Java General Elections Commission (KPUD) will request Rp 17 billion (US$2.2 million) from the provincial government.

The Rp 17 billion in emergency funds will be used to educate people on how to vote and to pay members of election committees across West Java.

Radar Tri Baskoro, the chairman of the West Java KPUD, said on Tuesday the money would allow the KPUD to work until it is disbanded in October this year.

West Java Governor Danny Setiawan said his government was ready to disburse the funds, which will be taken from the budget of the West Java provincial government.

The provincial administration has allocated Rp 200 billion in its 2004 budget for emergency purposes, including during the elections.

The West Java KPUD has received financing from the central General Elections Commission, but the members said the funding was insufficient to cover its expenditures.-- JP