Campaign fund needs auditing

Campaign fund needs auditing

From Koran Tempo

In the ongoing presidential campaign, candidates compete with one another via the print and electronic media, and also by putting up banners and posters.

As the public has become more critical than before, curiosity and suspicion have arisen over the funds expended during this period.

Take, Jusuf Kalla, for example. He has estimated that the party he represents needs some Rp 100 billion to campaign. As Kalla is a billionaire, (at least fron an Indonesian perspective) with about Rp 800 billion at hand, this does not worry the public.

However, the public may be suspicious about the funds for the campaigns of candidates with military backgrounds. For example, a retired four-star general has a pension of only Rp 10 million a month.

It is, therefore, necessary for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to update the wealth reports of candidates, and also audit their campaign funds. Auditing of campaign funds is very important to prevent money laundering.

In the general election, many political parties lied about their campaign funds. There were discrepancies between their campaign spending and the campaign funds reported to the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Ironically, the KPU, the Election Supervisory Committee and the KPK have all failed to properly handle this matter.

SULAIMAN MUDIN Tangerang, Banten