MAJALAH TEMPO (Tempo Weekly News Magazine)
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No. 10/VII/ http://www.tempo.co.id/majalah/arsip/7th/edition10/act-2.html |
Aceh Today
Local Printing Concerns
THE results of
prequalification for logistics procurement for the Aceh
regional government heads election (Pilkada) were
announced by the Independent Elections Commission (KIP) last week. Of the 58
companies applying for the logistics procurement, only 25 companies passed the
qualification upon screening and were thus considered acceptable. Therefore,
some circles, particularly the local printing houses, expressed a public outcry, because none of the local printing houses were
viewed as meeting the prequalification standards as set by the committee in the
procurement of ballots and voter cards—a project with the highest value.
The reason for not
meeting the prequalification standards angered many people in Aceh. Local entrepreneurs were disappointed with KIP’s decision that was viewed as denying the existence and
the capability of Aceh’s local printing houses.
The prequalification
announcement gave an opportunity to large printing houses from outside Aceh. Local printing houses were not given the chance to
participate in the project. In other words, local businessmen were given only
the share of small-value packages.
Naturally, some circles
put forward the accusation that there was collusion between Aceh’s
KIP and companies from outside Aceh, specifically
printing houses in
Adhering to that
government regulation, local printing houses strongly protested KIP’s decision. Many expected KIP to review its decision,
and allow access to local entrepreneurs for participation and creative work to
make a success of the Pilkada. In fact, in an
activity from and for the public, regional resources should be utilized and
empowered as optimally as possible. The Elections Commission should have
understood the conditions of the Aceh people who have
thus far been subjected to much disappointment.
In addition, KIP
requires printing houses to possess security paper, whereas even Government
Regulation No. 6/2005, Article 73, sections 1, 2 and 3 does not state the
requirement for security paper. The condition only stipulates that while the
ballot printing is underway, the company concerned is required to print ballot
papers in the numbers set by the Regional General Elections Commission
(KPUD)/KIP and that it is required to guard the confidentiality, security and
safety of the ballots.
Accusations of
prejudices and collusion against KIP were denied by the head of the Aceh KIP Logistics Procurement Committee, M. Yusuf Husin. “Based on various
considerations, the Committee decided that only the companies outside of Aceh were felt capable of printing ballots and voter cards
for the Aceh Pilkada,” Husin said last week. Because, based on the results of the
prequalification of a number of local companies, none of the local companies
were judged as being capable of handling the project.
Apparently KIP had been
extra careful in handling the procurement and printing of ballots. KIP planned
to have 2,635,625 ballots printed for 2,553,000 voters and 2.5 percent spare
ballots. Voters throughout Aceh total 2,555,939. This
number continued to be updated until the November 8 deadline for voter
registration. The ballots will be printed by one printing house. It seems that
KIP did not want to take risks. “This is not a matter of sharing money, but
this is a political project that must be successful,” said Aceh
KIP Chairman M. Jafar last week.
Out of the 25 companies
screened for qualification, KIP’s logistics
procurement committee accepted 10 printing houses, three of which are from Aceh. Jafar said that KIP did not
interfere with logistic procurement, since everything was fully left to the
procurement committee.
It is likely the Aceh KIP did the right thing in its decision. If foul play
did indeed occur, it will eventually be revealed. Moreover, the people are now
becoming increasingly critical, and the Aceh Pilkada process will be monitored by a great many people,
including the international world.
Farida Sendjaja