Legislator warns of election fund abuses
JAKARTA (JP): A legislator warned the government yesterday not to use general election funds for buying sprees, citing previous evidence of financial abuse.
Member of the House of Representatives' state budget commission Soelaiman Biyahimo called for tighter control over all expenditures as funds, paid from three successive annual state budgets since 1995/1996 fiscal year, had come from the public.
Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad told a hearing with the commission on Monday the May 29 election budget was set at Rp 214.5 billion (US$90 million).
Personnel expenditure would amount to Rp 94.5 billion, purchase of goods Rp 45.3 billion and operational costs Rp 74.7 billion.
The election fund this year is a clear Rp 15.5 billion increase on five years ago.
Soelaiman said previous elections had shown all budgetary posts were prone to financial abuses and the mark-up of market prices, including those for paper supply, storage of printed materials and delivery expenses.
"We have to keep an eye on those who want to tap funds for personal interest," Soelaiman said.
The May 29 election will be the sixth under the New Order and the seventh since independence 52 years ago.
During Monday's session, Mar'ie told the House preparation costs of Rp 75.1 billion had been covered in the 1995/1996 budget. Implementation of the election, costing Rp 128.7 billion, had been earmarked in the current budget year which would end on March 31. The administrative completion of the election process would cost Rp 10.7 billion, to be funded from next year's budget.
The funds exclude financial aids distributed to the three political groupings contesting the election. The ruling Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democracy Party will be vying for 425 House seats.
Soelaiman said each party would need at least Rp 1 billion for the election due to the new election rules.
The rules, designed by the National Security and Defense Council (Wanhankamnas), oblige the three parties to campaign in pre-designated areas, sometimes in two far-distant towns on the same day to avoid a face-to-face meeting of opposing supporters.
Nearly 125 million people have qualified for the polling day next May.
The government granted each election contestant Rp 250 million in 1992. Soelaiman said the amount was smaller than financial aid given by certain provinces like East Java and Jakarta which provided up to Rp 700 million.
Soelaiman's fellow commission member of PDI faction, Ni Gusti Ayu Sukma Dewi, said the government had not paid enough attention to political parties despite the country's impressive record in economic development.
The 1973/1974 state budget allocated a Rp 5 million monthly subsidy for each political grouping. The subsidy was only increased by Rp 2.5 million after 23 years, even as Indonesia's gross national product soared to $1,000 per capita. (amd)