Susilo-Kalla the only pair to complete registration
Susilo-Kalla the only pair to complete registration
M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta
Only one of the six pairings of presidential and vice
presidential candidates has submitted to the General
Elections Commissions (KPU) all documents required to contest
the July 5 election.
The KPU announced on Friday that only the pairing of Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla had handed over complete
documents to the commission.
The other five lacked a number of required documents, ranging
from tax-arrears and debt-free letters, recommendations from the
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and letters of good
conduct, to colored photographs.
The pairings -- Megawati Soekarnoputri-Hasyim Muzadi, Wiranto-
Solahuddin Wahid, Amien Rais-Siswono Yudohusodo, Hamzah Haz-Agum
Gumelar and Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid-Marwah Daud Ibrahim --
have one week to complete their documents.
Susilo and Kalla are nominated by the Democratic Party,
Megawati and Hasyim by the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P), Wiranto and Solahuddin by Golkar Party, Amien
and Siswono by the National Mandate Party (PAN), Hamzah and Agum
by the United Development Party (PPP) and Gus Dur and Marwah by
the National Awakening Party (PKB).
KPU member Anas Urbaningrum said the Susilo-Kalla pairing
could soon be declared fit to contest the presidential election.
"However, the official result will be made public on May 22,"
he said.
Anas declined to give more information on the results of
health examinations of the candidates.
"The results from a team of doctors from the Gatot Subroto
Army hospital have been given to the political parties concerned,
it is up to the parties to make an announcement," Anas said.
Alwi Shihab, the leader of the PKB, who has nominated visually
impaired cleric Gus Dur as the party's presidential candidate,
declined to announce the result of Gus Dur's medical examination.
"We still have to hold a meeting tonight to discuss the
result, maybe tomorrow we will talk to the press about it," he
said.
Gus Dur -- who was removed from the presidential post in June
2001 for incompetence -- had boasted that millions of his
supporters would choose abstention should the KPU disqualify him.
Excluding the health examination result, according to the KPU,
Gus Dur fell short of submitting six documents, including a
"tax-arrears-free" letter, copies of his diploma, and a letter
from the KPK.
Gus Dur's running mate Marwah Daud also seems to lack the
necessary documents. She still has to submit a total of 11
documents, including a letter of citizenship, voter's card,
solvency letter, and "tax-arrears-free" letter.
Wiranto is yet to produce a letter of good conduct,
"tax-arrears-free" letter and colored photographs.
All candidates have until May 21 to submit the documents. The
commission will announce eligible candidates on May 22.
Also on Friday, the KPU decided that the logistics procurement
for the presidential election would be handled by KPU members and
not by the secretary-general's office.
"Some (KPU) members still insist on taking care of the
procurement of logistics. We will not go through tenders, but
directly appoint contractors to save time," KPU deputy chairman
Ramlan Surbakti said.
Over 150 million voters are expected to cast their votes in
the July 5 polls, with a likely runoff scheduled for Sept. 20.