TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Husin Yazid, Director of the Strategic Development and Policy Research Center (Puskaptis) refused to answer summons of the Association of the Indonesian Public Opinion Survey (Persepsi) Ethics Board. He claimed that audit of the quick count results should be conducted after the General Election Commission (KPU) announces the result of the official count on July 22.

"KPU is the state institution who has the authority to announce the winner of the election," Husin said on Tuesday, July 15, 2014.

Husin said that he doubted the audit body's objectivity because the Saiful Mujani and Research Consulting director, one of the pollsters that stated that Joko "Jokowi" Widodo-Jusuf "JK" Kalla was leading in the quick count, is a member of the ethics board. According to Husin, the audit should be conducted transparently, independently and free from intervention.

Husin then challenged all pollsters to sign a joint-statement, pledging that any pollster having error results in its quick counts should be dismissed.

Member of the ethics board, Hamdi Muluk, said Persepsi would audit six pollsters in two days (Tuesday, July 15, 2014, and Wednesday, July 16, 2014) to ensure that the sample collection method was in accordance with proper procedures.

LINDA TRIANITA