OBSERVER CALLS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Jakarta, July 5 (ANTARA) - A public policy observer Ismet Hasan Putro called on the government Sunday to postpone the implementation of the presidential elections scheduled on Wednesday because there were still problems with regard to the permanent voter's list (DPT).

"The General Elections Commission (KPU) in its capacity as the organizer of the polls is no longer able to do its job and has lost its moral legitimacy," Ismet Hasan Putro said here on Sunday.

He said that the DPT problem had been questioned by many people and success teams of presidential candidates so that the problem had developed into a wide spectrum.

Ismet said that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and KPU should assure that the people were able to exercise their voting rights. As a nation, we all have to find a solution to the DPT problem to safeguard the dignity of Indonesia's democracy.

"If the July 8, 2009 presidential election has to be postponed eventually , this nation should not feel ashamed because it would be better to delay it rather than forcing ourselves to hold it but it may affect credibility and legitimacy which could create a new problem," he said.

Earlier, presidential candidate of the Golkar Party Jusuf Kalla (JK) said KPU should be able to resolve the voter's list (DPT) problem on Monday at the latest or else, it should postpone Wednesday's presidential polls.

"Our team is urging the KPU to resolve the DPT problem before the deadline on Monday (July 6, 2009)," Kalla said aboard of a plane when on his way back to Jakarta from Surabaya on Saturday night.

He said that the DPT problem was a serious matter. It would be dangerous for the presidential race if the DPT problem remained unsolved.

Kalla said that if until the Monday deadline the DPT problem remained unsettled, the presidential elections process should be evaluated.

"The presidential elections can be postponed without disturbing the state's schedules. It's calculation could be speeded up," he said.***1***