Transparent election budgets

Transparent election budgets

From Kompas

The District Elections Committee of East Bekasi has announced the pay for the ballot support group (KPPS) head is Rp 40,000 a day while this year's general election takes place. It implies the fee is paid only on election days.

The Kompas, Feb. 16 election issue, however, put the fees at Rp 50,000 for the KPPS head and Rp 40,000 for lesser officials each month, including tax deductions.

The confusing discrepancy on KPPS fees indicates a lack of budget transparency on the part of the General Elections Commission (KPU) and regional bodies (KPUDs). And if the fees are monthly, when do they come into effect?

The cost of building voting booths is still not clear and no announcement about it has yet been made. Any extra costs should not be borne by taxpayers because the 2004 general election has already been allocated funds for this and other purposes.

Neighborhood administrations are unpaid partners of subdistricts/districts so the KPU and KPUDs should proactively contact them to clarify these matters -- not the other way round.

H. FIRDAUS Bekasi, West Java