KPU CHIEF OPTIMISTIC BALLOT PAPERS DISTRIBUTED ON TIME

Pekanbaru, Indonesia, Feb 17 (ANTARA) - General Elections Commission (KPU) Chief Abdul Hafiz Anshary said he was optimistic the country-wide distribution of ballot papers for the April 9 legislative election would be completed on time.

"I am optimistic that the distribution of ballot papers will be completed as scheduled despite some obstacles in the eastern parts of the country," Anshary said when inspecting consortium company PT Cerya Riau Mandiri Printing that would produce the ballot papers in Pekanbaru, Riau.

He said the KPU expected the ballot papers to arrive in all regions in the country 21 days before voting day on April 9.

But he admitted he was worried about distribution of election logistics in the eastern regions, Papua in particular, because most of them had to be transported by plane as there few roads in the province.

PT Carya Riau mandiri had already begun printing the ballot papers. The company's director, Edhy Zahar Koto, said the company would print around 18.4 million ballot oaoers for the election in the province.

He said the printing of all the ballot papers would be finished 15-20 days ahead of the schedule set by the KPU.***