Two poll commission officials in Central Java dismissed

Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post/Semarang

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has dismissed two of its members in Central Java for breaching the institution's code of ethics, a local poll official announced on Friday.

The two fired members were Sarilan M. Ali of the Karanganyar regental election commission and Yudhia Patria of the Purbalingga regental poll commission.

"We received the decisions on the dismissals on Wednesday and have delivered them to the respective members," Central Java General Elections Commission chairwoman Fitriyah said.

However, she refused to describe the code of ethics violations committed by the two dismissed members.

"The KPU has its own code of ethics, which, among other things, is related to its function and role in organizing elections. The two removed members were considered to have acted beyond their function and role," Fitriyah said.

She said that under Law No. 12/2003 on elections, KPU members would be replaced if they violated their oath and code of ethics, and if they died.

Fitriyah said the dismissals followed reports on the evaluation on the performance of all commission members in Central Java, which were submitted by her office to the central KPU office in Jakarta.

She said the two members' dismissals were effective this month.

The Karanganyar and Purbalingga regental poll commissions currently have only four members respectively after each losing one.

The two members will be replaced after the Sept. 20 presidential election runoff, Fitriyah said.