More printing firms may withdraw
More printing firms may withdraw
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Three firms that have made little progress printing much-needed
election ballot papers were being asked to explain themselves,
the General Elections Commission (KPU) said on Wednesday.
On Wednesday night the KPU was to met with representatives of
two firms to clarify reports of their poor performance. It would
meet with another firm on Thursday.
KPU head Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin said its information was the
companies had made no significant progress printing the 50
million ballot papers needed for the election of regental
legislature (DPRD II) members.
"We will clarify the problem with them. If they cannot explain
themselves satisfactorily, we will cut their contracts and take
action against them," Nazaruddin said after a plenary meeting. He
refused to disclose the identity of the three firms.
He said the firms were responsible for ballot paper printing
in the Java and Papua regencies among others.
However, Nazaruddin expressed his optimism the printing
process could finish on schedule even if the three firms were
dropped, He said KPU could give the job to other firms, which
could finish it in one to two days.
"So please do not exaggerate the problems," he told gathered
media.
Three firms have already given up printing the ballot papers
for the election of DPRD II members. The companies, PT Rorakarya,
PT Kuwu Cakti Abadi and PT Bengawan Ilmu, were together
responsible for provision of 31 million papers.
Nazaruddin said the KPU would offer incentives to encourage
the remaining printing firms to improve their performance. The
KPU expects each company to produce 100,000 ballot papers a day
in order to meet the March 18 deadline.
"We will raise the printing price by 10 percent from the
average Rp 275 (US3c) per sheet," he said.
Due to the increasing number of voters, the KPU has raised the
number of ballot papers to 160 million from an earlier total of
150 million for each election. The 18 groups of companies that
won the tender will now have to print 640 million ballot papers,
plus another 10 percent to be kept in reserve.
Indonesians will elect members of the House of Representatives
(DPR), provincial legislature (DPRD I), regental legislature
(DPRD II) and Regional Representative Council (DPD) on April 5.
As of Wednesday, Nazaruddin said 92 percent of ballot papers
for the election of DPR and DPD members had been completed, in
addition to 43.5 percent of ballot papers for the DPRD I member
election.
KPU members have expressed optimism all ballot papers will
reach polling stations on March 25 at the latest.
The KPU has also accredited 42 election monitoring
institutions, eight from overseas, which will observe the
election process.
The foreign monitors are the European Union Electoral
Observation Mission; the International Foundation for Election
Systems; the Australian Electoral Commission; the Adia
Foundation; the Japanese-based Interband; the U.S-based National
Democratic Institute; the International Republican Institute; and
the Asian Network for Free Elections.
Eleven foreign embassies in Jakarta, including those of the
U.S., Japan, the Netherlands, Britain and South Africa, will also
deploy personnel to observe the elections.