Money talks in city corridors of power

Money talks in city corridors of power

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Almost all political activities in the city, such as the approval
of the city budget and the governor's accountability speech, as
well as the recent gubernatorial election this year, were tainted
by allegations of money politics.

It is suspected that money played an important role in the
approval of the budget in January and the acceptance of Governor
Sutiyoso's accountability speech in July. It is also believed
that money "talked" in Sutiyoso's victory during the electoral
race in September.

Money politics was just "believed" or "suspected", as it was
legally difficult to prove. There was a lack of admissible
evidence, such as letters, documents or bills, which could have
been used in court.

Those allegedly involved in money politics, including city
administration officials and councillors, denied it all. Although
there were some bribery confessions, the statements were
subsequently revoked.

Most information about money politics was from people not
involved in the crimes concerned, including non-governmental
organizations known for their sharp criticism.

"They 'sang' because they didn't get the money. They would
have accepted the money if it had been offered to them," some
critics said, referring to those who made bribery allegations.

The first instance of money politics was believed to have
occurred between January and February this year when the city
administration sought the Council's approval for the Rp 9.7
trillion 2002 city budget.

It was reported that Sutiyoso would provide Rp 3 billion for
the city's 85 councillors, should they approve the budget, which
included planned projects and allocation of the Rp 9.7 trillion.

Sutiyoso and the councillors denied the report, first revealed
by activist Azas Tigor Nainggolan, chairman of the Jakarta
Residents Forum (Fakta).

Angered by the accusation, the governor reported Tigor, who
often leads poor people in protests against the administration,
to the police for defamation in March.

The police did not respond immediately to Sutiyoso's
complaint. Tigor was arrested in October but was released a day
after being questioned.

The administration later claimed that the allocation of the Rp
3 billion for councillors was legal, as the money was the
accumulated honorarium for councillors' discussion of the budget
and several bylaws.

The administration also provided luxury rooms at city-owned
Wisma Jaya Raya in the mountain resort of Puncak, Bogor, West
Java, for the councillors to discuss the 2002 budget.

The whiff of money politics was also apparent in July this
year when Sutiyoso read his accountability speech on the 2001
budget and his final year's work performance.

A majority of council faction leaders, including those from
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the
National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party
(PPP) pledged to reject the governor's accountability report.

But their pledge was only a bluff, as a majority of the
factions ultimately accepted the report, although they
acknowledged Sutiyoso's bad performance. Only PAN and the minor
Justice Party rejected the report outright.

Later, in October, councillor Rahman AR of PPP confessed
before PDI Perjuangan councillor Dadang Hamdani that he had
received Rp 250 million from the administration for accepting the
accountability.

Rahman then denied it, saying that his statement was just a
joke, although Dadang said it had been made in all seriousness.

Dadang quoted Rachman as saying that he (Rachman) could
receive another Rp 250 million if he reelected Sutiyoso as
governor, but as his faction had nominated another candidate, he
merely received Rp 250 million for accepting the governor's
accountability report.

It is also believed that city councillors received not only
cash for supporting Sutiyoso. They were also able to take free
foreign trips to Spain, Bangkok, Beijing and Morocco.

The councillors clandestinely went on the trips, which were
financed by the budgets of city agencies and offices, instead of
their own council budget.

But, of course, the governor rejected all accusations of money
politics. As for the foreign trips, Sutiyoso claimed that his
officials were often forced by councillors to finance them.

Last year, the councillors also made trips overseas but the
outcome of the trips was useless, even though the participants
claimed to have carried out comparative studies instead of just
going on a junket.

However, not only Sutiyoso bestowed money and facilities on
councillors. Other gubernatorial candidates reportedly also
showered money on councillors in order to elect them.

Candidate Mahfud Djailani admitted to giving a down payment of
Rp 200 million to 40 councillors to elect him in the election in
September. He asked the councillors to return the money when he
found he had secured only 11 votes in the election.

Mahfud threatened to reveal the names of the councillors if
they did not return the money. But he then revoked his statement,
saying the Rp 200 million had been spent on dinner invitations at
a hotel.

It was unclear whether the councillors have returned the
money.

Many councillors admitted to having been invited by Mahfud,
but denied receiving any money during the dinner. But councillor
Supangat said that after the dinner, he and other councillors
received transportation payments, which, according to sources,
amounted to Rp 5 million each.

Another gubernatorial candidate, Endang Darmawan, reportedly
gave 10 cheques worth a total of Rp 450 million to 10 councillors
from PAN. Endang secured only two votes and the cheques were
reportedly blank.

Money also "talks" during hearings of the Council.

Councillor Ugiek Soegihardjo of PDI Perjuangan admitted
earlier in February that he was offered a "bribe" of only Rp 20
million from city-owned firm PT Jakarta Fairground.

Ugiek believed that his 11 fellow councillors, who became
members of a team investigating alleged corruption in the firm,
also received similar amounts of money.

PDI Perjuangan faction chairman Agung Imam Sumanto, who
distributed the money, claimed that the funds were from party
supporters.

As of today, the team's recommendation, which confirmed the
allegation of corruption in the firm, until now, has never been
followed up by legal measures.

Critics believe that the abuse was carried out through
collusion between city administration officials, councillors and
private parties.

It seems that officials are currently "afraid" of councillors
as a result of the reform movement, which forced the downfall of
former president Soeharto.

Unfortunately, the councillors have not displayed skills or
moral integrity, believed to be a consequence of hasty and poor
selection of candidates for the 1999 general election.

The indirect electoral system, in which the fate of a governor
is determined by the council's 85 councillors, is believed to
have been the trigger for money politics.

Direct elections would reduce the likelihood of money
politics: It would be impossible for gubernatorial candidates to
buy millions of votes of Jakarta residents. The elected governor
need not be too scared of the councillors since he or she would
not be responsible to them but to the people.

The state Constitution has been amended and now stipulates a
direct presidential election. Law 22/1999 on regional autonomy
and Law 34/1999 on the Jakarta administration are being reviewed
in the House of Representatives to allow the direct gubernatorial
election.

However, the fact is Sutiyoso has been reelected as governor
for the next five year.

It is the duty of the public, residents and non-governmental
organizations to keep watch over Sutiyoso's administration as we
cannot delegate the duty to city councillors with any confidence.