The danger of elections delay

The danger of elections delay

With the general election just 60 days away, it is
understandable that even an official at the General Elections
Commission (KPU) is concerned the April 5 elections may have to
be delayed.

KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said on Monday that
whichever of the 20 consortia bidding to print the 600 million
ballots for the elections would be unable to meet the Feb. 1
deadline to begin the printing, and asked that the deadline be
moved back to Feb. 5. The deadline was then pushed back even
further to Feb. 8, as the KPU still had not selected a tender
winner as of Wednesday afternoon.

According to Surbakti, there are also major concerns about the
ability to meet the March 5 deadline for the procurement and
delivery of 2.19 million aluminum ballot boxes for regencies and
municipalities across the country.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the commission is
facing an emergency, and if it rigidly refuses to alter its
standard operating procedures the elections are in danger of
delay.

The delivery of elections material to thousands of remote
islands throughout the archipelago is a massive logistical task,
in terms of elections probably among the most difficult
organizational jobs in the world.

Therefore, the commission must make as much haste as legally
tolerable. This may mean shortening a few procedures, which could
cause its own controversy, all aimed at ensuring the timely
production and delivery of ballots, ballot boxes and all other
necessary materials for the elections.

We respect the determination and integrity of the KPU members
and executives, comprising non-governmental organization
activists and academics. They have made some unwise decisions,
like the purchase of relatively expensive official cars and
overseas trips to meet with the comparatively few Indonesian
voters living abroad, but overall they are doing a commendable
job.

They have clearly followed the principles of good governance
in the tenders for the ballots and ballot boxes. It is difficult
to fault them for their stubborn refusal to "bend" the procedures
governing the tenders, considering the amount of public scrutiny
they are under. They do not want to bypass regulations to
accelerate the procurement and delivery of elections materials,
only to find themselves accused of corruption.

Still, we urge the KPU to take all necessary measures to
ensure the general election takes place as planned, because after
the April 5 elections, we still face the country's first direct
presidential election on July 5, with a possible runoff on Sept.
20.

Such necessary measures would include the appointment of local
companies to produce elections materials, even if this means
ballots or ballot boxes that are less than perfect in terms of
their quality.

These emergency actions must be supported by the political
parties contesting the elections, the public and the press. We
cannot make demands of this type on the KPU without supporting it
or waiting to cry foul when mistakes are made. We must allow the
commission to take drastic action, so long as it is in the
public's interest.

No less important is flexibility from those donors financing
the production and disbursement of ballots and ballot boxes.
While donors have every right to ensure their money is spent
according to the agreements they signed with the KPU or the
government, some flexibility on their part would help accelerate
the process.

Many of us tend to take a "no worries" stance, saying we will
fix the problems as they come up. But at this point a "Plan B" is
urgently required. Let us help the KPU by supporting the
commission to take faster and better steps to overcome all
remaining problems in the few weeks left before this crucial
event for the country.