Kutai set for direct election

KUTAI, East Kalimantan: An official with the Kutai Kartanegara local election commission said on Tuesday that Kutai Kartanegara was ready for the upcoming direct election for regent. Residents of Kutai Kartanegara will elect the region's new chief executive on June 1.

"The preparations are 90 percent completed. All election supplies, such as ballot papers, have been distributed to subdistrict poll officials, except for the ink," said Rinda Desianti, chief of the logistics section of the Kutai Kartanegara General Elections Commission (KPU).

Over 370,000 voters will be eligible to vote in the direct local leadership election, the first ever in Kutai Kartanegara's history. There are three pairs of candidates vying for the offices of regent and vice regent in the election, which will also be the first in the country's history.

Desianti estimated that all poll supplies will have been distributed to polling stations by May 21. -- JP