'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