Bribery behind NTB gubernatorial election, say councillors

Luh Putu Trisna Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara

Two councillors alleged on Saturday that money politics was behind the recent West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) gubernatorial election which many people had previously thought was democratic and fair.

The councillors made their allegations on the sidelines of a meeting by the gubernatorial election committee held to evaluate the election at the provincial legislature here on Saturday.

Councillor Ali Ahmad of the Ukhuwah faction revealed that a number of fellow councillors had attempted to bribe him to vote for a particular gubernatorial candidate.

"Before the election, two of my fellow councillors asked me to vote for a certain candidate. I wouldn't do it at first. But, I gave in as they were really persistent," he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The councillors, Ahmad said, had promised him a reward after the election.

Ahmad, however, refused to reveal the names of the councillors involved.

"I can't give you their names now. But, I will reveal all to the public and the election committee at the right time," he said.

Another councillor, Syaiful Islam from the Golkar faction, claimed separately that he had evidence of attempts by a number of councillors to bribe other councillors to vote for a certain candidate.

"A councillor told me that a number of fellow councillors had given him a sum of money. The money was given to my colleague on condition that he would vote for a certain gubernatorial candidate in the election," he said.

Syaiful refused to identify the councillors involved in the bribery attempt.

"I have evidence. I don't want to reveal it now to the public but I will report it to the election committee," he said.

The committee meeting, however, failed to reach any conclusion regarding the role of money politics during the electoral process. The election committee was divided over whether to investigate the alleged bribery attempts or not.

The West Nusa Tenggara Corruption Eradication Team also submitted a report containing allegations of bribery in the election, saying that 15 councillors had received between Rp 50 million and Rp 75 million each to vote for a particular gubernatorial candidate.

Strangely, the report was retracted later in the evening after the team's chairman, Kaharuddin, met governor-elect Lalu Serinate at his office.

The withdrawal of the report gave rise to further questions and confusion among the councillors attending the meeting.

Councillors of the Golkar and Ukhuwah factions demanded that Kaharudin give a clarification before the meeting, but others from the United Development Party (PPP) rejected the request, saying that Kaharudin had already withdrawn the report.

The PPP faction also questioned the report's accuracy.

However, committee chairman Abdurahim said that all reports about possible irregularities during the gubernatorial election process would be studied.

"When we talk about bribery, we must listen to information provided by the public," he said.

The meeting was adjourned until Monday to decide on the bribery issue.

Serinate, who is the council speaker, and Thamrin Rayes, the secretary of Sumbawa regency, won an overall majority in the election, putting them into office until 2008.

Serinate, a former member of Golkar, recently defected to the PPP.

The election's results still have to be presented to President Megawati Soekarnoputri through Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno for endorsement.

The election committee is allowed to request that the President cancel the swearing-in of Serinate if there is proof that he resorted to bribery during the gubernatorial election.