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)