BPPT TO ASSIST KPU IN USING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Jakarta, March 12 (ANTARA) - The Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) is to provide the General Elections (KPU) with information technology for this year's legislative and presidential elections.

BPPT Chief Marzan Aziz Iskandar said here on Thursday the agency would assist the KPU in implementing its integration system plan, in operating its data center, in collecting the results of ballot counts from districts and municipalities, and in releasing polling results to the public through the internet.
"We are going to assist KPU by taking data from districts and municipalities and entering the data into the data center," Iskandar said after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with KPU.
He said by doing so, the public would be enabled to immediately access information on ballot counts.
Iskandar said BPPT received a letter from KPU on January 27, 2009, asking the agency to help KPU implement information technology for this year's general elections, and the request was followed up with the signing of the MoU.
"It is the task and function of BPPT as a government institution to help KPU in applying communication and information technology in its tasks," Iskandar said.
He added that the agency had formed a working team of 25 experts as KPU's informal technical companions on February 19, 2009.
"I want the team to work with full dedication because the work is full of risks. If the system does not work effectively, we will be the target of protests and complaints," he said.
Iskandar said BPPT would make every possible effort to help KPU in using information technology to empower all its facilities.
"We ask all elements of the nation to make the election a success, and to prevent information technology from being disturbed by parties that might want to foil the elections," he said.