No govt aid for would be presidents

JAKARTA: The Indonesian government has turned down the House of Representatives demand for campaign funds for presidential and vice presidential candidates.

The failure to provide the campaign funds has been made certain as the issue is not included in the budgetary entries now being discussed by officials of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) and the finance ministry.

"The campaign funds are not included in any of the budgetary entries now being debated by the Bappenas and the Ministry of Finance," home minister Hari Sabarno said here after Friday prayers.

Hari said it would be unfair for presidential and vice presidential candidates from political parties to ask for financial aid from the government.

Speaking about security facility for every presidential and vice presidential candidates, the minister said the matter was still under review. -- Antara