Money politics is 'real threat'

Money politics is 'real threat'

JAKARTA (JP): Emil Salim, one of Indonesia's most respected
statesmen, warned on Wednesday that the credibility of next
month's general election is facing a "real threat" from money
politics.

In an address to a seminar titled "Indonesia Takes Challenges
in Multiparty Elections", he referred to the practice of
bureaucrats abusing state facilities for their own political
gains.

Emil, "Mr. Clean" in Soeharto's New Order technocracy,
observed that President B.J. Habibie is doing everything in his
power to engineer the upcoming election so that "he can serve
longer".

Habibie, who was hand-picked by his long-time patron Soeharto
last May, is generally considered a "transitional" president
whose main job is to prepare next month's elections.

Emil said that although the Habibie administration claims to
be a "reform government", it practices the New Order's
politicking tactics.

The National Planning Board's recent revelation that Rp 8
trillion in social safety net funds from foreign donors had been
diverted for "a political party", proved this, he said.

"The State Secretary (Akbar Tanjung) busy campaigning for
Golkar without him being aware that he had abused government
facilities for his party is good proof that it is politics-as-
usual," Emil said.

Emil proposed that all the contesting parties should be
transparent about the source of their funding and the use of
money they solicited from donors and from the state budget.

"The funds have to be audited by the public accountant and
announced to the public," he said .

Emil did not name which of the 48 political parties contesting
the June 7 elections are engaged in money politics. Some
politicians and activists have pointed their fingers at Golkar
Party and the People's Sovereignty Party (PDR).

Legislative candidates, Emil said, should announce their
private wealth before they assume office, and political parties
publicly account for donations they receive.

Donations from corporations, including state-owned ones,
should be banned because the companies are accountable to their
shareholders, he said.

"Corporate donations for legislative candidates will create a
conflict of interest because, if elected, the politicians may
defend the businesses instead of the people they represent. (pan)