Experts warn against money politics in poll

JAKARTA (JP): Observers again warned of the possibility of money politics wreaking havoc with the June 7 general election, committed especially by major political parties with great resources.

Arbi Sanit, a political lecturer at the University of Indonesia, and Sudarminto, a lecturer of morality at the Driyarkara Institute of Philosophy, separately expressed concern on Saturday because the new political law does not have stipulations concerning the use of money and other material offerings to win votes.

Sudarminto pointed out how the economic crisis had opened the way for Golkar and other parties to use money to win support.

"Democratization and reform will halt unless we put a stop to the use of money in politics," Sudarminto said.

He cited allegations that Golkar and several other parties had paid people to attend their party gatherings.

"It would not be possible, it would be illogical to think the parties held such gatherings and spent money for their cadres and supporters without a vested interest," said Sudarminto, who is a Jesuit priest.

Money politics, he said, could not be condoned because it deprived people of their freedom of choice.

Arbi was more blunt, saying: "It would not be possible for Golkar, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) or the National Awakening Party (PKB) to hold massive gatherings ... and many other activities if they had no money," he said.

Arbi said he believed many business tycoons and rich individuals in the political elite had funneled money to popular parties, including the three most established parties (Golkar, the United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party), in order to protect their interests.

He criticized the 1999 political law because it does not address money politics. He believes the situation is as such because of the engineering of a "pro-status quo" group seeking to maintain power.

"There should be harsh penalties against individuals, companies and political parties proven guilty of involvement in dirty politics," he said.

He defined money politics as individual donations of more than Rp 15 million and corporate donations of more than Rp 150 million a year. "This is a corrupt act that should be penalized," he said.

The 1999 law on political parties limits donations to parties to a maximum of Rp 15 million a year from individuals and Rp 150 million from corporations. Foreign donations are prohibited.

Both observers called on the National Elections Committee to establish a code of conduct which includes stiff penalties against parties found to have participated in money politics.

Mochtar Buchori, a deputy chairman of PDI Perjuangan, admitted his party had received large donations from various parties. But he denied money politics had taken place, saying everything was done in compliance with the law.

The party, led by Megawati Soekarnoputri, was facing financial difficulties in carrying out its programs across the country.

He said PDI Perjuangan was in need of Rp 20 billion to consolidate its cadres.

Arbi predicted that no parties would gain a majority victory in the elections as there were simply too many parties.

He observed that PDI Perjuangan, PKB and PAN, which have won public support, would take a majority of the vote and would emerge as the top three.

"Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB), in my opinion, will follow as members of the top six," he said. (rms)