Low funds force campaigns indoors

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: A number of political parties in the eastern province of West Nusa Tenggara are complaining that a shortage of campaign funds has force them to restrict campaigning activities to indoor rallies.

Members of some political parties' executive boards, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said on Friday that due to fund shortages, they had been unable to conduct campaign rallies according to the schedule set by the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Under the agreement, each political party is allowed to hold two campaign rallies and three indoor rallies in each electoral district in the province during the 22-day campaign period, which started on March 11.

"It is possible for a party that has adequate funds to stage campaign rallies according to the schedule, but it is impossible for a party with limited funds to do so," the secretary of a political party's executive board, who refused to be named, said. He said that a shortage of funds had limited his party to indoor rallies.

Some of the party's legislative candidates have even opted to campaign door-to-door, he added. The method is cheaper and more efficient than a campaign rally, which can cost tens of millions of rupiah, he said. -- Antara