Maluku to leave House if not given extra seats

Maluku to leave House if not given extra seats

M. Azis Tunny
The Jakarta Post
Ambon, Maluku

The Maluku legislative council is pressing ahead with its demand
that the eastern province's three seats at the House of
Representatives be increased to six for the 2004 general
elections, in accordance with existing regulations.

The Maluku council threatened it would forego House
representation next year if the General Elections Commission
(KPU) ignored its demand for three more seats in the legislature.

"If the quota of Maluku's seats in the House is not increased,
there will be no House representatives from our province for the
2004-2009 period," council speaker Zeth Sahuburua said on
Saturday.

Speaking in the Maluku capital of Ambon, he said the call had
been decided by the provincial council under Decree No. 23/2003
of Nov. 13.

Copies of the decree will be submitted to the KPU, President
Megawati Soekarnoputri, Vice President Hamzah Haz, House leaders
and the People's Consultative Assembly, as well as the Supreme
Court.

All 45 members of the Maluku council, along with leaders of
the 32 provincial parties that passed the screening process in
the province, are to present the decree.

Some of the delegates left for Jakarta on Sunday, while others
will fly on Monday. It was not clear when the delegates would be
received by KPU leaders.

Councillor Bitto S. Temar of House Commission A accused the
KPU of violating prevailing regulations when it decided to allot
only three House seats to Maluku.

Article 48 of Law No. 12/2003 on elections stipulates that the
number of House seats allocated to a province must not be fewer
than the number given in the 1999 elections, he said.

Maluku received six House seats in the 1999 general elections.

"With only three seats, the voices of the Maluku people will
not be strong enough to adequately articulate their aspirations
and problems," Bitto said.

He said the demand for the additional seats had also been
submitted formally with Letter No. 18/2003, sent on Sept. 11,
2003.

"We have submitted our letter ... but have received no
response," complained Bitto.

He urged the House and the KPU to consider Maluku's demand
seriously, saying the province's threat to walk out of the House
after the 2004 general elections could cause political
consequences at the national level.

Earlier this month, KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said
the commission planned to provide an extra seat to Maluku at the
expense of West Nusa Tenggara province, which is to have 10 seats
instead of the original 11 it was allotted. The plan is being
discussed further.

Ramlan said the KPU was attempting to set the number of House
seats at 550 in accordance with the General Elections Law. The
demand for more seats has already prompted the KPU to ask the
House to revise the Election Law to allow for 560 seats.

"The commission thinks it is unfair for Maluku to have as many
seats as the new province of North Maluku, which was once part of
Maluku province," Ramlan had said on Nov. 6.

He said the KPU would announce its decision on the issue
immediately, but did not mention any specific date.