Residents get to work before the big day
Residents get to work before the big day
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The final 48-hour countdown for the landmark presidential
election began on Saturday with residents in the capital devoting
their time and energy to erecting polling stations (TPS) in their
respective neighborhoods.
Some neighborhood units preferred to build polling stations in
public areas, while others opted to use schools, empty houses,
garages or verandas. Size does not matter, as long as the polling
station can spare voters from the heat.
Residents of neighborhood unit (RT) 02, community unit (RW) 05
in Kelapa Dua subdistrict, West Jakarta, had been gathering from
early in the morning on Saturday to build the TPS No. 34. Its
pillars are made of bamboo poles.
Dozens of residents, including Nur Djali, supervisor of the
polling station, and nine members of his team, took part in the
construction work.
The modest polling station, occupying a 50-square meter plot
in front of Djali's house, will be the main destination for 295
voters who will exercise their right to vote on Monday.
The government has declared election day a public holiday in a
bid to encourage all eligible voters to exercise their political
rights.
While Djali and his men were working, a group of women
prepared tea, coffee, fruits and traditional cookies.
He said his neighborhood unit received Rp 250,000 (US$27.17)
from the Jakarta General Election Commission (KPUD) to build the
polling station.
"It's far from enough to buy materials," Djali said.
Therefore, the residents utilized whatever materials were
available.
"We have to borrow a plastic tarpaulin from one of the
residents here because if we were to buy a new one, it would cost
Rp 400,000," he said, adding that to build the tent, he spent
around Rp 100,000 on bamboo poles alone.
Other facilities the residents have to provide include tables,
dozens of chairs, white/black boards and ropes to fence the
polling station.
Tino Sumarti, a poll committee member, said she would borrow
tables and chairs from residents who live around the polling
station.
"During the legislative election in April, we borrowed tables
and chairs from schools. But this time around, we will borrow
from neighbors to save transportation expenditure," she said.
The poll committee did not collect money from residents as
they had done prior to the legislative election in April.
Despite the financial constraints, Djali expressed his
optimism that the poll committee would be able to organize the
election well thanks to their experience in administering the
legislative elections.
"This presidential election will be far more simple than the
legislative elections. We know what to do," said Djali, who is a
teacher at an elementary school.
His team comprises workers, traders, university students,
company employees, civil servants, and security guards.
According to Djali, each member of the team received Rp 40,000
from the KPUD. He added that the KPUD promised to give another Rp
100,000 after all the work was completed.
"I don't care if we receive more money or not. I will be happy
if we can organize the election smoothly," said Sumarti, the only
woman in the team.
Nearly seven million eligible voters in Jakarta will cast
their ballots in 26,910 polling stations.