Bidders for Lampung election logistic tenders under threat

Oyos Saroso H.N. ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Bandarlampung   |  Thu, 05/08/2008 11:03 AM  |  The Archipelago

Bidders for tenders for election supplies at the Lampung General Elections Commission (KPUD) Wednesday complained of threats by gangs that included armed men.

The Commission said gangs threw some bidders out of the office when they went to get application forms.

There was also reportedly intimidation of applicants by gangs to try to prevent participation in the tender.

"Their number reached the dozens. Some of them displayed pistols on their belts," said a tender participant from Jakarta, Munfazir.

"We have to call off our plans to bid, unless we give them 6 percent of the tender fee. I don't know why the tender process must be like this in Lampung."

"They say I have to pay 1 percent of the fee now while the remaining 5 percent must be paid when the result is announced," said Munfazir.

The registrataion period for bids commenced April 30 and ends May 13. Dozens of bidders have registered as of Wednesday.

The tender is divided into four packages which include procurement for ballot papers worth Rp 2.8 billion (approximately US$311,000), registration forms (Rp 1.2 billion), voter cards (Rp 4.2 billion) and indelible ink (Rp 481.4 million).

Lampung KPUD secretary Fahrizal said his office was powerless to confront the gangs.

"We are afraid due to their numbers. We have requested help from the Bandarlampung Police because some of our staff have been intimidated by them. They thought our staff were bidders," said Fahrizal.

Bandarlampung Police chief Sr. Comr. Syauqi Achmad said he had posted 20 personnel at the KPUD office.

"Besides officers in uniform, we have also placed plain-clothes officers there. We are ready to arrest anyone who disrupts the tender process," said Syauqi.

"We shelved our plans to register due to the 6 percent fee and no guarantee we would get the project," said an unidentified participant from Surakarta, Central Java.

Besides local bidders, others were from Jakarta, Surakarta, Yogyakarta and Klaten.

In January a group of men beat up bidders who were applying for a tender for a project at the River Delta Management Agency in Bandarlampung. A local television reporter was beaten up while he was covering the gang violence.

Lampung businessman Agus Sahlan said gangs had not only frightened off bidders but also inflicted huge financial losses on them.

"A winning bidder must pay a fee to the gangs. Ironically, some of them even hold civil servant status," said Agus.

Agus said the organizing committee should have posted the forms via an official website in order to prevent intimidation and extortion.

"Bidders could send in their application forms by e-mail. Several companies have done the same," said Agus.

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