GOVT NEEDS TO IMPROVE PREPARATIONS FOR UPCOMING LOCAL ELECTIONS By Fardah

   Jakarta, July 15, 2015 (Antara) -- Indonesia is set to hold 269 regional head elections (pilkada) simultaneously on December 9, including nine gubernatorial elections, 224 district head elections, and 36 mayoral elections.

        On July 13, some four months before the elections, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) reported to the parliament the 10 results of its inspection on the planned implementation of the pilkada.

        The audit was carried out following a request made by Commission II of the House of Representatives (DPR) to the BPK in May.

        The BPK found that the budget allocation for the pilkada was not in line with existing regulations; Regional Grant Agreement documents on the pilkada had either not been prepared in several regions or were not in accordance with regulations; and the plan on the utilization of the pilkada's grant budget was not compliant with existing regulations.

        Its findings also included that most regional officials of the General Elections Commission (KPU) and local secretariats of the Provincial Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) were not certified yet and did not have decrees regarding their appointments.

        The audit agency also found that the preparations for guidance to report the utilization of the grants and accountability were inadequate; that the stages of preparations made for the simultaneous pilkada were not in line with the schedule stated in KPU Regulation No. 2 of 2015; and that the establishment of ad hoc committees did not comply with existing regulations.

        Besides, the BPK also pointed out that the grant account of the 2015 simultaneous pilkada managed by the KPUs and Bawaslu at the provincial, district, and city levels were not in accordance with existing regulations.
   The accuracy of the budget calculation to ensure security during the pilkada is still being questioned.

        According to the audit, the Constitutional Court (MK) has yet to issue a standard operating procedure as a reference to resolve conflicts in case any untoward situations arise following the announcement of the pilkada's results.

        Despite the findings highlighting the shortcomings of the preparations made for the pilkada in many regions, the government and the DPR said that the elections will go ahead as planned.

        "I do not see a connection between the findings and the postponement of the elections," Husni Kamil Manik, the KPU chief, said on Tuesday, July 14.  
   In fact, he appreciated the BPK for its findings related to the budget allocated for the implementation of the pilkada scheduled to be held on December 9 in 269 regions.

        "The BPK's report is excellent. It concerns, for instance, a shortage of funding in regions, which is normal because the law was issued only recently. It is not the responsibility of the KPU alone to address the findings but that of the government and the House of Representatives, as well," he pointed out.    
   Manik further noted that his office had reached a consultative stage with the DPR regarding the 10 points of the BPK's findings.

        As the audit agency has unearthed discrepancies in the stages of implementation of the pilkada, the elections commission has urged the government to help clarify the findings, Manik remarked.

        "Every finding of the BPK concerns the roles of the KPU, the Bawaslu, the Constitutional Court, regional governments, the central government, and the DPR," he added.

        Therefore, the commission has asked the government to help clarify the 10-point findings regarding budget discrepancies, Manik stressed.

        Moreover, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo stated that the KPU had clarified nearly all the findings reported by the audit agency.

        "The government is helping to complete the clarification process in response to the BPK's findings posthaste, as we have the opportunity to fix things. The KPU has addressed nearly 90 percent of the problems pointed out by the BPK," Kumolo affirmed on July 14.

        With regard to the disbursement of the budget, he revealed that all regions that will hold the pilkada have met the requirements to use the funds for the local elections.

        The fact that some regional administrations have yet to sign the Regional Grant Agreement Document (NPHD) will not hinder the implementation of the elections, according to Kumolo.

        "The legal umbrellas are quite strong. The regional budgets are adequate, with a grant system being following and funds not being taken from strategic or priority posts," the minister explained.

        He also admitted that only eight regions along with the Central Government's Election Supervisory Body (Panwaslu) and Bawaslu have not issued the NPHD.

        "We will push and facilitate those regions to address the problems that hinder them from signing the NPHD," Kumolo noted.

        Furthermore, the government's commitment to assisting the KPU, as the executor of the elections, to clarify the findings was also expressed by Vice President Jusuf M. Kalla a day after the BPK's report was submitted to the DPR.

        "We will help the KPU prepare the clarification. It will be discussed. The government will deal with every shortcoming," the vice president emphasized.

        Earlier, a number of local administrations set to hold the regional head elections had reported a shortage of funds to implement the pilkada, including funds for security measures.

        In response to the financial problem, the central government plans to cover the deficit needed to ensure security during the pilkada.

        The funds will be taken from the state budget, Teten Masduki of the Presidential Communications Team said earlier in July.

        "Law No. 8 of 2015 on the pilkada states that funding for activities related to the elections must be sourced from the regional budget (APBD) and can be supported by the state budget (APBN)," he pointed out.

        The implementation of the upcoming pilkada is estimated to cost some Rp7 trillion, which can be taken from the APBD.

        "Only the cost to ensure security by the police will not be fully covered by the APBD. This shortage in funding will be covered by the central government's APBN," he remarked.

        In addition, the president has instructed the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, the home affairs minister, the National Police chief, and the finance minister to coordinate, to disburse the APBN funds to secure the elections.

        The head of state also instructed the home affairs minister to complete all regulations necessary to ensure the smooth implementation of the pilkada.

        He also ordered the National Police chief to identify potential conflicts that might occur during the elections.

        Moreover, a legislator of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has urged the government and the KPU to follow up on the BPK's findings.

        The findings challenge the government and the election executor to immediately improve their performances, the lawmaker said.

        Preparations for the implementation of the simultaneous pilkada must be improved before it is too late and the entire process of the local elections is affected, he cautioned.

        "Yes, the preparations should be improved because it will affect the elections if delayed," he remarked.

        He added that there was a pressing need to make improvements to prevent potential problems, including security issues.
***2***
(F001/INE)
 15-07-2015 16:52:00