Campaign fund for Golkar enrages PPP leader
Campaign fund for Golkar enrages PPP leader
JAKARTA (JP): The Central Java branch of the Indonesian
Builders Association's scheme to raise funds to help finance
election campaigns of the ruling Golkar organization has enraged
United Development Party (PPP) leaders.
Hamzah Haz, chief of the PPP faction in the House of
Representatives, yesterday planned to lodge a protest with the
association's Central Java branch.
On Tuesday the senior PPP legislator in the Central Java
legislative council, Thoyfoer, warned that the builders' plan
would only widen the financial disparity among the three
political organizations that will contest next year's election.
"The fund-raising efforts will worsen the high cost economy
because builders will have to increase prices to keep their
handsome profit margin," Hamzah told journalists.
The debate was sparked by Sundoro, chief of the association's
Central Java chapter, last week when he made it compulsory for
local builders to set aside part of their profit for Golkar
election campaign activities.
Sundoro said the money that builders have to contribute
amounts to "less than 2.5 percent" of their net profit. "If you
can't resist your curiosity, ask the governor for details," he
said.
Conglomerates are major financial backers of Golkar, the
dominant political grouping with about 36 million registered
members.
Hamzah said he would assign PPP legislators in the Central
Java capital of Semarang to monitor the builders' plan and to
"take action" if it goes ahead.
Thoyfoer said that the association's policy amounts to
pressure on its members to contribute money to his party's
competitors.
"We would have no objection if in his capacity as a (Golkar)
cadre Sundoro sets aside part of his profit for the organization.
But it is unacceptable if he makes it compulsory for association
members," he said.
Objections to the builders' fund-raising scheme has also come
from Moeljono S. Trastotenojo, a former member of Golkar's
advisory council in Central Java.
According to Antara, Moeljono has lodged a protest with
Central Java governor Soewardi and sent copies to various
institutions, including the House speaker and the President.
(pan)