Printing of ballot papers delayed by another week

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.