KPU falls short on goal to audit all political parties

KPU falls short on goal to audit all political parties

JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Commission (KPU) missed
its deadline to audit all political parties contesting the
general election by at least seven days before the polls, with
audits still outstanding on 11 of the 48 parties as of Wednesday.

Commission members said on Thursday they still hoped the
remaining audits would be completed before the country goes to
the polls on June 7.

One of the members in charge of the audits, Andi A.
Mallarangeng, said they covered the period of March 5 to May 18.

The commission revealed that almost all the leading parties --
such as Golkar, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the National
Awakening Party (PKB) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) -- breached the rule on maximum
donations under the Election Law.

The law states that parties are allowed to receive annual
maximum contributions totaling Rp 15 million from an individual
and Rp 150 million from a corporate or organization.

Golkar, for instance, received donations from three
individuals which were more than Rp 15 million each and another
three corporates also gave more than Rp 150 million separately.

PDI Perjuangan received 304 anonymous donations, three of
which breached the limit of admissible donations from
individuals.

The law also stipulates that the Supreme Court is entitled to
mete out administrative sanctions to errant parties and
disqualify them from the polls.

The committee has yet to submit its recommendations to the
Election Supervisory Committee and the Supreme Court because the
issue of violations must be brought before the commission's
plenary meeting, Andi said.

Parties still to be audited by members of the Association of
Indonesian Accountants are the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI),
the Indonesian United Islam Party (PSII), the Suni Party, the
Justice and Unity Party (PKP), the New Masyumi Party, the
Nahdlatul Ummat Party (PNU), the Democratic People's Party (PDR),
the Indonesian National Party-Marhaen (PNI-Massa Marhaen), the
Democratic Catholic Party (PKD), the Republican Party and the
All-Indonesian Workers Solidarity Party (PSPSI).

Andi said the commission could accept the excuse of the PDI
for failing to submit date because its leaders were busy
campaigning.

Data on the PRD, the Republican Party and the PNI-Massa
Marhaen were submitted on May 31 but their audits could not be
completed before Wednesday, Andi said.

Data on PKD and PSPSI were incomplete and could not be
processed, he added.

Most parties do not keep adequate bookkeeping and donations
often go unrecorded, Andi added. (edt)