Candidates to spend billions in election

Candidates to spend billions in election

Slamet Susanto and M. Taufiqurrahman, Yogyakarta/Jakarta

Presidential candidates are set to spend billions of rupiah in
the one-month campaign period slated to begin on June 1, seeking
financing from supporters and the business community, with some
willing to empty their own pockets.

Running mates Amien Rais and Siswono Yudhohusodo of the
National Mandate Party (PAN) have estimated that they need some
Rp 160 billion (US$17.7 million) to fund the campaign.

Siswono said on Thursday that almost 30 percent of the fund
would be from his own pocket and the rest would come from
supporters through the party's bank account.

"If necessary I can give more for the campaign, but the rest
will be from supporters who can contribute through a bank
account," said Siswono, who is known as a successful developer.

Candidates from the Democratic Party, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
and Jusuf Kalla have opted to seek support from the business
community to raise the needed Rp 100 billion in campaign funds.

Kalla cited a recent fund-raising in Bali where 700
businessmen donated Rp 100,000 each.

"I am also a businessman, so some of my friends will help me,"
Kalla said as quoted by Antara.

The Democratic Party's Rp 100 billion paled significantly in
comparison to the United Development Party (PPP)'s whopping Rp
500 billion campaign fund. The amount was revealed by party'
candidates Vice President Hamzah Haz and Minister of
Communication Agum Gumelar.

The party's team manager Endin J. Soefihara, however, failed
to mention the source of the funding, saying only that it would
come from PPP supporters.

"We will maximize all potential sources in our party to
finance the campaign," Endin said after party's meeting at
Hamzah's official residence.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Golkar
Party have yet to announce the amount of their campaign fund.

PDI-P's Megawati Soekarnoputri and Hasyim Muzadi's campaign
team refused to mention the amount of their campaign fund, saying
they would announce it later.

In a recent fund-raising event Wiranto managed to collect some
Rp 4 billion.