Protective Equipment Distributed to Meet Shortage

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Hazmat clothes prepared by an officer of the District Election Committee are packaged as part of the logistics of the South Tangerang regional elections at the Pondok Aren District Sports Hall, South Tangerang, Thursday (12/3/2020). Logistics containing ballots, voting tools, ballot boxes and personal protective equipment (PPE) will be distributed to the Election Committee for the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of South Tangerang on Dec. 9, 2020. The PPE includes masks, face shields, rubber gloves and hazmat suits.

Body temperature gauges for the regional elections began to be distributed to meet a shortfall of about 20 percent of the total requirement of about 300,000 units. The readiness of personal protective equipment is very important as the Covid-19 pandemic rages on.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Less than a week before the Simultaneous Regional Elections 2020,which will be held on Wednesday (9/12/2020), some personal protective equipment for the prevention of Covid-19 at polling stations is in the distribution process. The personal protective equipment will be distributed in the next shipment to meet the shortfall, and it is targeted to arrive at the polling stations no later than the day before the voting.

Also read: PPE Absolute Requirements

Most of the personal protective equipment (PPE), such as hazmat suits, disinfectants, masks, latex gloves and face shields, have been distributed from regencies/cities to the districts. In a number of regions, PPE has been distributed to the local poll administrators (KPPS). The largest number of PPE that has not been distributed are the body temperature gauges (thermogun).

The distribution can involve the TNI (Indonesian Military) and Polri (National Police) so that PPE can be received no later than one day before the elections.

Related to this, Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU) Arief Budiman said in Jakarta, Friday (4/12) that his party had asked the regional KPUs to mitigate by accelerating the distribution of PPE. The distribution can involve the TNI (Indonesian Military) and Polri (National Police) so that PPE can be received no later than one day before the elections.

"If a shipment by land and sea does not allow it to arrive on time, we recommend using the air route," said Arief.

A KPU member, Pramono Ubaid Tanthowi, added that almost all PPE apart from thermoguns had been distributed. Until yesterday, there was a shortage of around 60,000 units from the total demand of around 300,000 units. One thermogun is used for one polling station (TPS).

"Now the tools (thermoguns) are ready at the airport in each province. For example, to meet the shortage in Gowa regency (South Sulawesi), the tool has arrived at Hasanuddin Airport (Makassar)," said Pramono.

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

Various regional election logistical needs are prepared in the regional election logistics management room, Wujil Sports Stadium, Semarang regency, Central Java, on Friday (4/12/2020) before being distributed to a number of areas. The pandemic is a big challenge for the holding of regional elections. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory so that polling stations will not become a location for the spread of Covid-19.

The thermogun shortage had occurred because a supplier of the tool withdrew halfway through. However, they have been replaced by new suppliers.

"Since three days ago the tool has been ready, the regional KPU can simply make re-contract with a new provider. They (the suppliers) have taken the initiative before the contract is signed to send goods to each province," he said.

Also read: Strengthening COVID-19 Prevention at Polling Stations

The KPU, according to him, is optimistic that all PPE needs will be ready for use on voting day.

Sent in next shipment

In Central Sulawesi, all PPE, except thermoguns, have been distributed. Chairman of the Central Sulawesi KPU, Tanwir Lamaming, said that apart from thermoguns, other PPE was available in districts and villages. Officers at the polling stations can get the PPE starting Dec. 5.

As a mitigation effort, thermoguns at the city/regency or district or subdistrict KPUs are distributed to the local poll administrators in areas that are difficult to access. "Therefore, if the body temperature gauges arrivs late, it is hoped that it will not be a problem because it is only distributed in cities or places that are not difficult to reach," said Tanwir.

In Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, all PPE minus the thermoguns have also started to be distributed in stages from districts, villages and polling stations. "PPE is distributed to KPPS without thermoguns," said the chairman of the Central Lombok KPU, Lalu Darmawan.

The only shortage of the PPE is only the thermogun.

In Papua, the local provincial KPU also said that the logistics for 10 of the 11 regions holding regional elections reached more than 90 percent. The only shortage of the PPE is only the thermogun.

Also read: Stronger Rules for Campaign Fund Reporting Needed

Head of the General Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Abhan reminded that thermoguns were very important to separate healthy voters from those with Covid-19 symptoms. Therefore, he asked the KPU to speed up the distribution of the thermogun.

KOMPAS/ISMAIL ZAKARIA

Officers load personal protective equipment (PPE) for the 2020 simultaneous regional elections onto a truck before it is distributed from the General Election Commission (KPU) warehouse in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Friday (4/12/2020). The availability of complete PPE and the application of health protocols are an absolute requirement for the 2020 simultaneous regional elections. Thus, apart from providing a sense of security and comfort for voters, it also prevents the transmission of Covid-19.

If there are regions that have not received complete PPE, a member of the Supervisor Council of the Association for Elections and Democracy, Titi Anggraini, asked the KPU not to take the risk of continuing voting at that places. "Do not tolerate this because it relates to a sense of security and health in organizing the regional elections and public trust in the ongoing process," she said.

Quick test

In accordance with the provisions of the KPU, local poll administrators and community protection (linmas) members who work at the polling stations must undergo a rapid Covid-19 test. However, in Gunung Kidul regency, Yogyakarta, there we was that the KPPS and linmas members were worried that if the test results were reactive, they would have to undergo quarantine and could not work.

"We coordinate this matter with the KPU, which will later make a policy," said a member of the Yogyakarta KPU, Ahmad Shidqi.

Also read: The Regional Elections and ‘Cukongkrasi’

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the House of Representatives (DPR) Syamsurizal said there were still shortages in the provision of rapid test kits for regional elections participant witnesses.

"We have asked the DPR Commission II secretariat to write to the Home Ministry to immediately administer rapid tests on the witnesses because it is impossible for the KPU to fund it. We hope the Home Ministry pays attention because everyone who is present at the polling stations needs to at least undergo a rapid test," he said.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Officers prepare the logistics for the 2020 simultaneous regional elections (Pilkada) at the General Election Commission (KPU) Logistics Warehouse of Banjarmasin city, South Kalimantan, Friday (4/12/2020). Pilkada logistics, including personal protective equipment (PPE) in South Kalimantan, are confirmed to be ready to be distributed.

In a press release, the Bishops Council of Indonesia for the Lay Apostolate commission called on Catholics as voters to exercise their political rights wisely and intelligently. They were also asked to understand voting procedures in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and identify candidates for regional heads to be elected. (REK/BOW/SYA/GAL/HRS/OKA/FLO/ZAK VDL)