Disqualification proposed for corrupt candidates
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Activists are calling for disqualification of any presidential or vice presidential candidates who violate the regulations on campaign funds.
Smita Notosusanto, executive director of the Center for Electoral Reform (CETRO), said on Wednesday that the absence of such a punishment would discourage public accountants from auditing the financial reports of presidential and vice presidential candidates.
"There should be a clear consequence after the audit. Without a consequence, auditors will be reluctant to carry out financial audits," Smita said in a hearing with the United Development Party (PPP) legislators Chozin Chumaidy and Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin here on Wednesday.
Despite the obligation for presidential and vice presidential candidates to submit financial reports regarding their campaign funds, the presidential election bill now being deliberated by the House of Representatives (DPR) provides no penalty for candidates who violate the regulations.
Under the bill, annual donations to a presidential candidate must not exceed Rp 50 million from individuals, and Rp 500 million from corporate donors.
The bill, however, does not specify any punishment for presidential candidates when they accept donations more than the maximum amount. It merely says that further regulations would be covered by the General Elections Commission (KPU).
An article in the presidential election bill states that anyone giving donations of more than the acceptable amount could face a three-month jail term. It also says that the financial sources and expenditures of candidates must be audited.
Smita proposed that candidates violating the campaign funds regulation must be barred from future elections. It was not clear why she did not call for an immediate disqualification for candidates violating the regulation.
Chozin Chumaidy and Lukman acknowledged that their faction about any penalty.
"If the punishment includes the disqualification of an elected president, it would be too risky," Chozin said without elaborating.
Separately, Golkar secretary general Budi Harsono recommended that the regulations should be more "realistic" to prevent manipulation.
Besides proposing a clear penalty for violators of campaign funds, Smita urged Chozin and Lukman, both members of a House special committee deliberating the bill, to define clearly what constituted a campaign donation.
She added that the identity of donors must also be clearly explained.
"All candidates must be given an equal chance to get donations, by opening and closing their respective accounts simultaneously," she added.
Smita suggested that the account for campaign funds must be opened six months before the election date.
Fellow activist Hadar N. Gumay suggested that all political parties give equal authority to their party leaders in outlying regions to nominate presidential candidates.
Hadar said that the nomination of presidential candidates must not be dominated by parties' executive boards in Jakarta.