Printing of ballot papers delayed by another week

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The chaotic preparations for the elections continue to amaze one and all, with the General Elections Commission (KPU) officially announcing on Tuesday that the printing of ballot papers would be delayed again to Feb. 8, a week behind the initial schedule.

With some 600 million ballot papers required, KPU will name several companies or consortia, which will print the ballot papers for certain areas to prevent further delays.

KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said the commission would focus on the company's financial capability to print the ballot papers so that there would not be another postponement.

There are 20 groups participating in the ballot paper tender, but KPU has refused to announce them publicly until the commission officially announces the winners on Wednesday. Only those who have the capability to print four colors would qualify.

Several firms that could be favored include the State Printing Company (PNRI), the Indonesian Government Security Printing and Minting Corp. (Peruri), PT Temprina and PT Singgalang.

"We will appoint the firms that will print the ballot papers tomorrow (Wednesday) evening and they will start printing the ballot paper on Feb. 8," KPU chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin said.

The delays in printing have added to the ballot boxes controversy. The company which holds the contract to produce 50 percent of the 2.19 million boxes, PT Tjakrindo Mas, has recently threatened to stop production until KPU pays them money from the first term of the contract.

Nazaruddin said KPU would also appoint a firm to produce the film of the ballot papers. Those are known to include PNRI, Peruri, Singgalang and PT Intermasa as well.

Nazaruddin was reluctant to disclose the budget allotted for the printing of ballot papers, but analysts have been worried that the limited time to print would increase the costs.

Regarding the ballot box debacle, Nazaruddin said it would ask the tender winner PT Survindo Indah Prestasi to accept an offer from new investors to finance the firm's remaining production on Wednesday at the latest, or else.

"If Survindo refuses to accept it tomorrow, we will report the firm to the police for failing to fulfill a contract. Everything must be settled tomorrow," he said.

Survindo could face accusations of obstructing the election preparations as well.

Nazaruddin said Survindo might only be able to produce up to 38 percent of the ballot boxes, or around 832,000 ballot boxes. So far, it has produced 365,660 boxes, based on KPU data.

Separately, Monopoly Watch chairman Samuel Nitisaputra said the KPU had to ensure that any firms that would inject funds into Survindo should have at least Rp 80 billion in cash to help the firm produce the remaining ballot boxes.

"KPU must examine the new investors' bank or deposit accounts and keep them as a collateral so they will not misappropriate the accounts. We can't repeat previous mistakes," he said.

Separately, KPU member Rusadi Kantraprawira, chairman of the ink procurement tender, said KPU had allocated Rp 155 billion to procure the special fluorescent ink -- for voter's to dip their fingers after they vote -- from abroad, because much of the locally produced ink was fake.

"Based on the 1999 election experience, one-third of the ink was locally produced, and was fake or easily erased," he told reporters.

He said that KPU would appoint the winner of the ink tender next Monday.