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