Lemhannas calls for contingency plans for polls

Kurniawan Hari and Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) is calling on the government and the House of Representatives to draw up a contingency plan in case the upcoming election fails to take place as scheduled.

"We all hope that the election will take place on time, but the possibility of failure must be taken into account seriously. We all know that only 60 percent of the ballot boxes have been finished," Lemhannas Governor Ermaya Suradinata said on the sidelines of a hearing with House Commission I for defense and security affairs on Wednesday.

He warned that delay in the ballot box procurement and ballot paper printing would affect distribution schedules.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has not selected firms to produce some 400,000 ballot boxes after it cut short its contract with tender winner PT Survindo Indah Prestasi due to the latter's failure to meet the production target. The printing of ballot papers had also been moved to Feb. 8, one week behind the original schedule of Feb. 1.

The commission has scheduled the legislative election for April 5, and the presidential election on July 5, with a possible runoff for the first two contenders on Sept. 20.

The delay in the box procurement and ballot paper printing, and their subsequent distribution, have raised concerns that elections might not be held as scheduled.

Ermaya said the government and the House must discuss a contingency plan because a delay would have a serious impact on the country.

During the hearing presided over by commission chairman Ibrahim Ambong, Ermaya said that his institute had identified 28 indicators of threats to the 2004 general election.

The indicators include the failure of KPU to procure election logistics, internal conflict within political parties, shortage of staff members in the KPU and Elections Supervision Committee (Panwaslu) in cities across the country, violation of campaign regulations, and poor information dissemination on the elections to the public.

Meanwhile, KPU announced on Wednesday a consortia of 18 companies to print 600 million ballot papers for the April 5 legislative election.

KPU member Mulyana W. Kusumah and head of the ballot paper tender, said whether the companies would be given responsibility to print ballot papers in certain areas was to be decided later.

KPU members were divided over what to do about the production of ballot boxes by the current three companies.

Logistics head Chusnul Mar'iyah refused to accept responsibility for the ballot box production by tender winner Survindo.

"I will be responsible for the production of Tjakrindo and PT Almas only," she told reporters.

Tjakrindo was appointed to produce 40 percent of 2.19 million boxes, while PT Almas will produce 10 percent.

KPU chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin said on Tuesday that Survindo would be given a chance to accept offers from two new investors to complete its production of around 38 percent of the total 2.19 million boxes.

The 18 winning companies:

1. PT Pabelan Cerdas Nusantara

2. CV Setiaji

3. PT Aneka Ilmu

4. PT Jenakarya Adi Indah

5. PT Dwi Rama

6. PT Temprina Media Grafika

7. State Printing Company (PNRI)

8. Peruri

9. PT Balai Pustaka

10. PT Pundi Mas Putra Indojaya

11. PT Pabea Tata Mandiri

13. PT Madju Medan Cipta

14. PT Dharma Anugerah Indah

15. PT Asia Cemerlang Perdana

16. PT Genta Singgalang Pers

17. PT Winkarya Lintas Persada

18. PT Surya Agung and Jarallege Technology