Poll committee needs Rp 40b

MANADO, North Sulawesi: The North Sulawesi General Elections Commission (KPU) needs a staggering Rp 40 billion (US$4.4 million) in funds to pay election committee members for the regional leadership election in June, an official has said.

North Sulawesi KPU head Donald Rumokoy said on Thursday night that the funds would be paid to all committee members, from provincial level to subdistrict level. The hundreds of committee members would work for between five and six months, prior to and after the June 20 election. -- JP