KPU draft instruction on election campaign hailed

KPU draft instruction on election campaign hailed

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Politicians hailed a draft instruction on campaigning issued by the General Elections Commission (KPU) that will require electoral candidates to discuss with the commission the types and numbers of advertisement they are allowed to place in the mass media.

Firman Jaya Daeli of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) emphasized, however, that the views of electoral candidates should be heard.

"I think all electoral candidates should talk about this matter first ... In this case, the KPU is required to be a facilitator and to hear input from electoral candidates," he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

He said the KPU should also discuss the issue with the mass media to ensure equal opportunity for electoral candidates to promote their platforms in the mass media.

There have been fears that political parties armed with more funds could dominate campaigns by buying up advertising space and slots in print and electronic media.

The KPU published on Friday a draft instruction on campaigning to seek feedback from the public before the draft is to be passed in December. It aims to ensure equal opportunity for election participants to advertise in the media, as ruled in the Election Law.

Hamdan Zoelva of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) said the KPU should play a central role in providing equal opportunity for all electoral candidates to advertise in the mass media.

"Surely the KPU must listen to electoral candidates to regulate campaigning in the mass media, but the final word is the commission's," he said.

He said the KPU should, for example, firmly decide on maximum advertising space and airtime to be allotted to electoral candidates and prohibit an electoral candidate from acquiring advertisement slots allocated to other electoral candidates.

"The unused advertisement slot of an electoral candidate can be taken over by businesses, but not by other electoral candidates. This is the spirit of equality," Hamdan said.

The commission also issued on Friday another draft instruction on guidelines for legislative candidates.

The election campaign period is scheduled for three weeks in March next year prior to the general election on April 5.

Indosiar TV station spokesman Andreas Ambesa said his company would accept the KPU's schedule on campaigning in the mass media.

"We will treat political parties like other users during the campaign period. If a ruling bans a party from taking over other parties' unused slots we will accept it. Our life does not depend on political parties' advertisements," he said.

An official at Metro TV station refused to comment, saying the KPU's instructions had not yet been passed.

Regarding the definition of campaigning, both Firman and Hamdan said the object of a campaign should not be limited to nonparty cadres as it was difficult to distinguish between party and nonparty cadres during a campaign.

"It is better to say a campaign is an activity by parties to woo voters with party programs," Hamdan said.

Some 145 million people are expected to exercise their right to vote in next year's elections.