Decree on election funds to be revised

Decree on election funds to be revised

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf
promised on Friday to revise Ministerial Decree No. 12/2005 that
is considered by local election committees to hamper the
disbursement of funds for local direct elections.

"We have received a lot of complaints regarding the matter and
are evaluating the need for revisions," he said while
accompanying Vice President Jusuf Kalla on a visit to Makassar.

Regional direct election commissions have been complaining
about the mechanism of funds allocation for the polls.

The existing decree states that only 15 percent of funds per
phase, with the next withdrawal being made only after use of the
previous one has been reported.

South Sulawesi's Bulukumba local election commission head
Syahruni argued that if not changed, the withdrawal mechanism as
stated in the decree could delay elections in many regions.

Minister Ma'ruf also said local administrations should cover
funds for direct elections if neither state budget subsidies nor
local budgets have been approved. --JP