Golkar head refutes early campaigning allegations

Agus Maryono and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Purwokerto, Central Java

Golkar Party deputy leader Slamet Effendy Yusuf denied on Tuesday charges he had violated early campaigning regulations during his visit two weeks ago to Kedungbanteng, in Banyumas.

"I did visit Golkar party members and local residents in the Kedungbanteng district, but I wasn't campaigning early," he told The Jakarta Post.

Slamet, a legislator at the House of Representatives (DPR) and a candidate for this year's legislative election, said during the meeting he had only updated Golkar members and residents about the latest developments in Indonesian politics.

"I never urged them to vote for Golkar. I only told them about the results of the latest election surveys held by, among others, the Indonesian Republican Institute (IRI)," he said.

He also denied accusations he had distributed pocket calendars to the group.

"I saw pocket calendars were distributed to the participants at the meeting, but I was not responsible for it. I did not authorize their distribution," he said.

Slamet was responding to the Kedungbanteng district's Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu), which on Monday reported him for early campaigning to the Banyumas Regency Panwaslu.

Esti Purnomo, the head of Kedungbanteng Panwaslu, said the committee had strong evidence Slamet had been campaigning early.

According to Esti, Slamet had promised the gathering if Golkar won in this year's general elections, the fate of the nation would be better.

"We have evidence in the form of a recorded speech and a pocket calendar with the logo of Golkar Party and a photograph of Slamet. We have handed it over to the regental Panwaslu," she said.

Banyumas' Panwaslu head Ahmad Rofik confirmed the committee was investigating. "We have received the evidence, and if there is any indication of criminal behavior, we will pass it on to the police," he said.

If Slamet is found violating the election rules, as stated in the Section 138 of the Election Law/2003, he could face a jail term of a maximum of three months and/or a maximum Rp 1 million (US$120.00) fine.