Lemhannas calls for contingency plans for polls
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