KPU urges KPI to give sanctions to three TV stations over quick counts results

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has called on the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) to sanction three local stations for allegedly violating an agreement not to broadcast quick count results pending the completion of the voting processes.

KPU member, I Gusti Putu Artha, said Wednesday that his office had asked the KPI to punish Metro TV, TVOne and RCTI, for showing the quick count results before polling stations had ended the voting.

The KPU, he added, had demanded the stations stop broadcasting the results.

A previous agreement between the KPU and TV stations stipulated that the local stations were allowed to air their quick count results only after the polling stations, at least those across the Western part of the country, had completed their voting.

“Showing the quick count results violates the ethic codes even though this is not stipulated in the 2008 presidential and vice presidential law. This will drive people to vote for a certain pair,” Putu told tempointeraktif.com.

He added that the KPU was questioning Metro TV's quick count method as it did not register itself with the office.

“Metro TV's quick count results cannot be accounted for because it did not register itself with the KPU,” he said. (ewd)