House opposes extra funds for local elections
House opposes extra funds for local elections
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Lawmakers opposed on Wednesday a government proposal for an
additional Rp 1 trillion (US$107.5 million) in funds to support
upcoming regional elections, saying the requested amount was too
much.
The House of Representatives Commission II overseeing
governance and regional autonomy affairs questioned the purpose
of the additional funds. The government has said the money would
be spent on the operation of a Ministry of Home Affairs-
supervised central desk.
It would also be used to cover operational expenses, including
for police and military personnel who will be in charge of
security, and for resolving criminal and justice issues related
to the conduct of the elections.
The desk will work to educate the public about the upcoming
local elections, and also to monitor, evaluate and register
voters.
Earlier, the government had asked for Rp 1.25 trillion for the
conduct of the elections.
Commission deputy Ida Fauziyah, who is also a member of the
House budget committee, said the commission deemed the extra
amount as far too much for items that should cost far less.
"The purchase of extra items is also questionable because we
can actually use the facilities and equipment that we used in
last year's legislative and presidential elections," she said.
Commission member Ryaas Rasyid, a former director general of
regional autonomy at the home ministry, said the budget seemed
much too big when compared to expenses for last year's national
elections.
"For monitoring purposes, they demand about Rp 30.6 billion,
yet it cost only Rp 1 billion in the 1999 election. They are also
asking for Rp 86.6 billion for an public education program. What
kind of public education program costs that much?" he asked.
Legislator Chozin Chumaidy said the government was also not
supposed to propose budgets for security purposes.
"It should be the respective institutions, either the police
or military, that propose budgets to Commission III," he said.
This commission oversees legal, human rights, and security
affairs.
Aside from budget woes, observers and non-governmental
organizations criticized the formation of the central desk, which
they said was part of the government's attempt to centralize the
election process and assist its favored candidates.
The government said the central desk was needed simply to
ensure the success of the election process.
Indonesia is scheduled to conduct the first-ever direct
elections for regional administrative heads in 225 provinces,
regencies and mayoralties.
Most regions are expected to hold their elections in July,
while other regions will conduct theirs in December.