Plan for simultaneous elections canceled

DENPASAR: A plan to hold five regional elections simultaneously in May 2010 was scrapped Tuesday after one regency pulled out of the scheme, claiming lack of funds to continue the election process.

In the initial plan, Denpasar, Badung, Tabanan, Bangli and Karangasem were to hold their regional elections simultaneously on May 4, 2010.

The plan calls for the regions to kick off the administrative processes by November at the latest.

"Unfortunately we still don't have enough money to start the process as required by the plan," said Tabanan Regional Elections Commission chief Budiatmika.

He added the commission would only be able to commence the process in January 2010.

"We haven't broken any regulations *by pulling out of the plan* because the tenure of the Tabanan regent doesn't end until August 2010," he said. -JP