'Veteran' printers vie for new KPU contract
'Veteran' printers vie for new KPU contract
Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta
The General Elections Commission (KPU) is selecting from among 17
printing firms that printed ballot papers for the general
election to produce ballot papers for the presidential election.
A KPU document shows that a group of firms led by PT Dharma
Anugrah Indah (DAI) tops the list of bidders with a printing
capacity of 362,000 ballots per hour using a sheet machine. The
group's web machine printing capacity, however, stands at only
33,000 ballots per hour.
A web machine is fed with rolled plain paper, while a sheet
machine uses cut plain paper.
A group led by PT Pundi Mas is second, with a sheet machine
capacity of 188,000 ballots per hour and web machine capacity of
82,000 ballots per hour.
Pundi Mas was among those firms that had intended to
subcontract its print order for the legislative election, but
proved capable of managing its task on its own.
The KPU working contract prohibits subcontracting, but the
commission has so far not taken any action against errant
printers.
In addition, KPU chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin previously
said any company found to have violated the contract would not be
given another chance of printing papers for the presidential
election.
A group led by Temprina Media Grafika is third on the KPU
list, with a sheet machine capacity of 185,000 ballots per hour
and web machine capacity of 650,000 ballots per hour.
Most of the firms that printed ballot papers for the April 5
election used web machines, but for the July 5 presidential
election, the KPU has repeatedly said it would appoint companies
with a strong sheet machine capacity, as most of the paper left
over are cut plain paper for sheet machines.
Sixth on the shortlist is a group led by PT Winkarya Lintas
Persada, which was found to have subcontracted its print order
for the April 5 election without the commission's consent.
Further, a tax document obtained by The Jakarta Post shows
Winkarya to be a factory that assembles four-wheel automobiles
with reported sales of only Rp 192.7 million (US$21,411) in 2003.
At least three other short-listed groups for the July election
were also discovered to have subcontracted their jobs: Dwi Rama,
Jenakarya Adi Indah and Javallege Technology.
The KPU will not award the printing job for ballot papers and
indelible ink for the July 5 presidential election for bid, but
will instead select the tender winners by appointment.
Commenting on the list, KPU deputy secretary-general Sussongko
Suhardjo said the commission would select firms using sheet
machines.
"What we are doing is evaluating the short-listed printing
firms -- whether they have good records, including punctuality in
finishing orders, returning template negatives, good tax records
and efficiency, and have never violated a working contract," he
said.
He said that of the 1,600 tons of plain paper needed to print
160 million ballot papers for the presidential election, 1,400
tons were for sheet machine printing. The rest might be printed
on web machines.
The KPU expects the printing of ballot papers for the
presidential election to start on May 26, four days after it
announces the definite presidential candidates. It has also set a
June 26 date for the ballot papers to reach local election
officials across the country.
Printing capacity in ballot papers per hour
Printer Sheet Web
1. Dharma Anugrah Indah 362,000 33,000
2. Pundi Mas 188,000 82,000
3. Temprina Media Grafika 185,000 650,000
4. PNRI 177,000 380,000
5. Asia Cemerlang 165,500 -
6. Winkarya Lintas Persada 104,000 130,000
7. Madju Medan Cipta 103,000 505,000
9. Peruri 91,000 396,000
10. Balai Pustaka 88,000 225,000
11. Pabelan Cerdas Nusantara 84,000 148,000
12. Dwi Rama 80,000 200,000
13. Jenakarya Adi Indah 74,000 270,000
14. Javallege Technology 66,000 20,000
15. Surya Agung 62,500 24,000
16. Aneka Ilmu 30,000 209,000
17. Setia Aji 20,000 63,000
Source: General Elections Commission