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.