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.