Rp 253b allocated for Jakarta election

Jakarta administration has proposed to spend Rp 253 billion (approximately US$28.1 million) on the gubernatorial election in the province in July 2012.

Rp 193.2 billion of the funds has been earmarked for first round of the election and the remaining Rp 59.8 billion for a second round if needed, Jakarta Nation and Political Unity Agency chief M. Arief Amien said Tuesday in Jakarta.

“The funds will be in the form of a grant that will be used to support the organizing [of the election], to pay for facilities and officers [wages],” Arief said as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Arief, however, stopped short of explaining where the grant would come from.

Earlier, Jakarta Election Commission chief Jury Ardiantoro estimated that the Jakarta gubernatorial election would take two rounds, as a winning candidate is required to secure more than 50 percent of the ballot, unlike in other regions where only over 30 percent is required to win.

Jury also said more than 164,000 officers would be employed to support the election process, at polling stations in 44 districts across the five Jakarta municipalities, with each paid Rp 300,000.

Commission member Aminullah said the first round would take place on July 11, 2012.

“By regulation, the ballots must be cast at least one month before the end of the incumbent governor’s term. Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo’s tenure is due to end on October 7, 2012, so we’ve picked July 11, 2012 as the voting day,” Aminullah said.