TRANSPARENCY NECESSARY IN HANDLING E-ID CARD PROJECT SCANDAL by Fardah

 Jakarta, April 8, 2017 (Antara) - Hari, a resident of Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, has complained that despite having applying for e-ID cards for his entire family since August 2015, no information is available on when their cards would be issued.

        "We have always received the same response from the local officers that 'you are still in the queue,'" he stated on April 6, 2017.

        Hari and his family have been given certificates stating that their e-ID cards are still being processed by the local authorities.

        Almost every region in Indonesia, including Jakarta, is facing similar problems. Several residents do not have e-ID cards, as there is a shortage of plastic cards for printing ID cards.

        The project, worth some Rp5.9 trillion (nearly US$443 million) and being overseen by the Home Affairs Ministry, has encountered problems since it began in 2011.

        In its early stage, the data recording equipment for the project had arrived late, and the project has been hit by corruption allegations.

        Just few weeks after Tjahjo Kumolo was sworn in as the home affairs minister in late 2014, he announced his plan to halt the project due to suspicions of possible corruption.

        The project, however, is still being carried out, while the alleged corruption case has been handled by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

        As the trial has been ongoing, testimonies by several witnesses have revealed a shocking allegation that some Rp2.3 trillion (some $172.5 million) of the project funds were embezzled.

INTERIOR MINISTER HALTS IMPLEMENTATION OF E-ID CARD PROJECT by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 19, 2014 (Antara) - Since the beginning, the implementation of electronic-Identification (ID) card project has faced many problems such as late arrival of data recording equipment and corruption allegations.

        The launch of the e-ID card or locally known e-KTP project in several cities simultaneously had been delayed by the home affairs ministry due to various obstacles.

        The launch had initially been scheduled for August 1, 2011. But, later it was carried out in early 2012.

        The ministry had allocated Rp6.3 trillion ($642 million) from the state budget for the introduction of e-KTP nationwide, with the target of providing at least 170 million people with e-KTP by late 2012.

        Indonesia`s total population is around 257 million, but only those above 17 years old are eligible for e-KTP.

E-ID CARD PROJECT SEEMS TO BE RUNNING SMOOTHLY by Fardah

      Jakarta, May 22, 2012 (ANTARA) - In the beginning, the implementation of the electronic identity (e-ID) cards, locally known as e-KTP, got delayed due to the late arrival of data recording equipment reportedly imported from the United States.
      Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi became the main target of criticism because the project was handled by his ministry and was supposed to begin simultaneously in various cities on August 1, 2011.

DELAY, CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS BUG E-ID CARD PROJECT by Fardah

    Jakarta, Sept 14, 2011 (ANTARA) - The electronic identity (e-ID) card project has gained media attention due to the late arrival of equipment delaying the project`s implementation, and corruption allegations.
      The e-ID card or e-KTP program was supposed to have been launched in several cities simultaneously on August 1, 2011.

LATE ARRIVAL OF EQUIPMENT DELAYS E-ID CARD PROGRAM by Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 2, 2011 (ANTARA) - Both Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzie and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo have expressed disappointment about the late arrival of equipment for the electronic identification (E-ID) program.
       Several cities have announced that they had to delay the implementation of the new ID program which was supposed to begin simultaneously on August 1, 2011, because they had not received at least two essential devices, namely biometrics for finger print records and IRIS eye retinal scanner reportedly imported from the United States.

INDONESIA TO USE ELECTRONIC ID CARDS by Fardah

      Jakarta, June 27, 2011 (ANTARA) - As of 2011, the Indonesian government will start issuing electronic identification (e-ID) cards or locally called E-KTP for around 67 million people living in 187 districts/cities, out of a total of 178 eligible million throughout the country.
      "The remaining 105 million in 300 districts/cities (will have e-ID cards) in 2012," Dr Hammam Riza, head of the communications and information technology center of the Technology Application and Study Agency (BPPT), said here recently.