Family of Died Polling Station Officers to Receive Compensation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - General Elections Committee (KPU) targeted to hand over compensation for families of the polling station working committees (KPPS) members who died and fallen ill while on duty in the Indonesia elections 2019 within the next ten days.

The committee secretary-general Arif Rahman Hakim said his side was still waiting for the permit from Finance Ministry related to the amount of the aid.

“If the Finance Ministry issues the standard amount and other recommendations this week, we will release the technical guide next week,” said Arif in the KPU office, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, April 24.

According to Arif, the ministry had allowed the payment of the compensation for the family of the poll station workers who died and fell ill during and after the simultaneous election. “We are still revising the budget optimization.”

Arief explained his side would instantly distribute the aid through its regional committees after the ministry provided the budget. The election committee earlier suggested Rp36 million for each family of the died officers.

“The ministry will likely approve [the proposed amount],” he said, adding that the compensation for those volunteer workers who had fallen ill was recommended at Rp16-30 million depending on the illness.

According to Arief, the requirement to obtain the compensation would be set as simple as possible. “We will release easy technical guidance,” he remarked.

Per Wednesday, April 24, at 15:15 Western Indonesian Time (WIB), the KPU recorded as many as 144 KPPS members died allegedly due to fatigue for overworking in the 2019 general elections. “And 883 people fall ill. We appeal to the workers to take care of their health,” a commissioner Viryan Azis said.

IRSYAN HASYIM (CONTRIBUTOR)

Read: Jusuf Kalla Urges Simultaneous Election Reviewed after KPPS Members Death