Disqualification proposed for corrupt candidates
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.