Minister Tjahjo: No Need to Extend Election Registration Period

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Interior Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said the extension of the registration of candidates for regional heads will not solve the lack of candidates problem.  

“There is no use to extend it. Some register, then later resign. Another came, then disappear, this shows a lack of serious intent," said Tjahjo at the State Palace on Tuesday, August 4.

The registration period has been extended until August 3, 2015, but there are areas that still have single candidates.

Tjahjo refered to the incident in Surabaya. Haries Purwoko, an entrepreneur who is also chairman of the Pancasila Youth Community Organization, resigned from his nomination as a candidate for deputy mayor of Surabaya in elections this year.

Haries previously came and register at the local election commission (KPU) office, paired with the Chief Executive of East Java KONI Dhimam Abror. Haries suddenly "disappeared" from the Commission's office and leave their partners on Monday afternoon, August 3, 2015.

If the registration period is extended further, it will change the stages of elections that have been designed by KPU. Starting today until August 7, the Commission will verify the candidates already enlisted.

Then on August 8 to 14 are requirement correction period. This period is only for candidates who already registered to fix the requirements that have been submitted. This period, said KPU Commissioner Ferry Kurnia Rizkiyansyah, can not be used to extend the registration period since on August 24, 2015 the Commission will determine the candidates.

TIKA PRIMANDARI