Bribery behind NTB gubernatorial election, say councillors

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Strangely, the report was retracted later in the evening after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.