Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – The House of Representatives has approved a bill to overhaul the elections system, requiring the government to establish a new general elections commission and an independent supervisory board.
The government will have two months to nominate 21 candidates for seven spots on the General Elections Commission (KPU), and to establish the General Elections Supervisory Board (Bawaslu).
House Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar pounded the hammer to endorse the bill after all 10 factions at the House presented their support, although not more than 50 legislators were attending the plenary meeting. Justice and Human Rights Affairs Minister Hamid Awaluddin represented the government.
Saifullah Ma'shum, chairman of the House special committee that prepared the bill, said KPU members should be sworn in by August. The KPU will then have the task of selecting five new KPU chapter members each at the province, regency and municipal level for the so-called KPUDs. Unlike the current KPU, the new KPU will supervise KPUDs and their secretariats.
"The KPU has full authority to make necessary decisions and policies in carrying out the task of organizing legislative elections, presidential and vice presidential elections, regional representative elections and local elections," said Saifullah.
"It has its own authority to supervise all KPUDs and the secretariat general and to propose its own budget in doing its tasks."
Saifullah said one of the most important changes was that KPU members would focus only on the decision- and policy-making process, while the procurement of elections materials would be handled by the secretariat general.
The new election committee will be monitored by Bawaslu and overseen by an internal supervisory team to ensure that all KPU members and staff obey the law.
Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, deputy chairman of the special committee, said the bill was designed not only to ensure a fair general election in 2009 but also to end corruption at the KPU.
"Power abuse and graft cases which involved several members of the current KPU and its senior officials have been taken into consideration in drafting the bill," he said.
The bill gives full authority to KPU's plenary session to suspend any members and staff abusing their power and discharge them if they are found guilty by the court.
It also tasks the new election commission to update information on eligible voters and determine eligible parties in legislative elections. They will also determine the eligibility of candidates in local, regional and national elections.
In updating its data, KPU is required to cooperate with the Home Ministry, which is conducting a population census.
The bill also tasks KPU and Bawaslu to adopt a joint code of ethics and set up an ad hoc honorary council to ensure all elections are held on time and in accordance with the law. The council will also ensure that violations committed by KPU members and staff or electoral candidates are handled properly.