Money politics complicates Jakarta gubernatorial election

Money politics complicates Jakarta gubernatorial election

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Money politics has played a role early on in the process of
the gubernatorial election as some candidates have spent a huge
amount of money only to enter the next phase in the election
process, says an NGO leader.

Chairman of the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) Asas Tigor
Nainggolan said he was informed by reliable sources that a
gubernatorial candidate had paid Rp 250 million (US$27,500) to a
faction which nominated him as its candidate.

"My source said to enter the third round, a gubernatorial
candidate had paid Rp 250 million to a faction leader. I don't
believe money politics only happens in one faction," Tigor told
The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The third phase in the election process is when the 11
factions selected one or two pairs of candidates as their
gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial candidates from 72 selected
names. The first and second phases are registration and the
selection from the registered names.

Tigor added that much more money would be involved in the
further selection processes. Prospective candidates are willing
to give Rp 1 billion to each councillor to ensure that they are
elected.

Tigor's statement was confirmed by a councillor, who was also
a gubernatorial candidate. He said it was not so difficult to
seek businessmen who wanted to give financial support for his
candidacy.

"There are many businessmen who are ready to pay Rp 1 billion
for each councillor so that I can win the gubernatorial
election," said the councillor, who spoke on the condition of
anonymity.

To become a governor, a candidate should be supported by at
least 43 councillors from the total 85 City Council members, who
will elect a new governor and deputy governor on Sept. 11.

"The amount of money given to the councillors will be returned
in less than one year after he is elected as governor," said
Tigor.

A number of councillors admitted that money politics was
unavoidable in the gubernatorial election.

Deputy chairman of the City Council and Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) member Tarmidi Suhardjo said
he recently received an SMS message, saying that a certain
candidate wanted to pay Rp 600 million for each councillor who
was willing to elect him as governor.

"As competition gets tougher and tougher, certain candidates
have been trying to seek support from councillors by promising
them money," said Tarmidi who is one of the gubernatorial
candidates.

There are now 14 pairs of gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial
candidates who have been shortlisted from 75 selected names. But
so far incumbent Governor Sutiyoso, City Council Chairman Edy
Waluyo, and Tarmidi are the most likely candidates for governor.

Another PDI Perjuangan councillor Ugiek Soegihardjo said that
money politics was nothing new in the City Council. He estimated
that a large amount of money would be involved in the
gubernatorial election.

Joseph Mangandow Kabulloh from the Indonesian Unity in
Diversity Party (PBI) faction, also said that there was a
gubernatorial candidate who only boasted about his wealth in
trying to win faction leaders' support.