Megawati calls on KPU to stick to polls schedule

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri asked the General Election Commission (KPU) to stick to its schedule on Wednesday, otherwise, she claimed, the whole process of the polls would be disrupted.

Megawati warned that in the worst-case scenario, KPU's failure to keep everything on track could delay the general election, which is slated to be held on April 5 next year.

"The President called on the KPU to be firm on political parties," KPU chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin said after a meeting with Megawati at the State Palace here.

Nazaruddin was referring to a request by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra for the commission to extend the Oct. 9 deadline for 10 days for parties to register with KPU.

Even as the deadline draws near, no political party has registered with the ministry, despite the fact that 18 parties have passed the screening conducted by the ministry.

Parties declared eligible by the ministry must undergo verification with the KPU to qualify to contest the election next year.

Megawati said the KPU had to have the courage to reject registration of parties after the deadline.

"Political parties must not only demand their rights, but meet their obligations. One of their obligations is that they should respect the election schedule," Megawati said as quoted by Nazaruddin.

Megawati also chairs the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, which is among the 18 parties that passed the administrative screening. Other parties include the Crescent Star Party, which is headed by justice minister Yusril.

In response to Yusril's request to extend the deadline for party registration, KPU member Mulyana W. Kusumah said the KPU would discuss the matter with the minister in the near future.

Yusril said the deadline needed to be extended, citing his ministry's heavy workload. The ministry has to screen 66 political parties nationwide from Sept. 1 to Sept. 27.

During the meeting with the KPU delegates, Megawati called on the people to exercise their right to vote in the next general election.

Abstention, she said, was irresponsible and reflected an unwillingness to take a stance in the election, when for the first time the nation elects its legislative members directly.

Citing the results of a survey conducted by an international organization recently, Nazaruddin said the number of people boycotting the polls would be insignificant.

KPU also considered allocating additional seats at the House of Representatives for Maluku, following a protest from lawmakers coming from the province. The commission had decided the province would have three House seats following the establishment of a separate province in the north two years ago.

Nazaruddin said the change would be made possible after the Central Bureau of Statistics disclosed an increase in Maluku's population.

He said the increase in the number of House seats allocated for Maluku would be made at the expense of other provinces.

The KPU has decided the upcoming election will offer 550 House seats, 50 more than the previous polls in 1999, due to the formation of new provinces.