Parliamentary Member Outlines Reasons for Supporting Electoral Law Bill Imposing Sanctions Against Money Politics Perpetrators
Jakarta — Ahmad Heryawan (Aher), a member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PKS faction, supports the proposal by the General Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) on the importance of imposing blacklist sanctions against money politics perpetrators to prevent them from participating in election contests in subsequent periods.
According to Aher, money politics constitutes a serious threat to the quality of democracy because it damages electoral integrity, weakens popular sovereignty, and creates space for the emergence of political corruption practices after elections are held.
“Money politics is one of the diseases of democracy that must be fought together. Therefore, the idea of imposing blacklist sanctions against money politics perpetrators deserves consideration as a measure to provide a deterrent effect whilst safeguarding the quality of our democracy,” said Aher in a statement quoted on Tuesday (2 June 2026).
He urged that the electoral law be revised so that the handling of electoral violations can be more effective, including facilitating the proof of administrative violations without always having to meet the massive element requirement as per the current mechanism.
He also supported Bawaslu’s position regarding the need to redefine money politics so as to encompass various new modes of digital transactions, such as the provision of electronic vouchers, digital balance transfers, mobile credit top-ups, and other forms of non-cash incentives.
“The modus operandi of money politics continues to evolve alongside technological development. Regulations must not fall behind. The definition of money politics must be broadened to encompass digital transactions that are currently increasingly used in electoral violation practices,” he said.
He expressed the view that clean elections constitute the main foundation of healthy democracy. All parties must commit to strengthening electoral integrity and closing every loophole for money politics practices in whatever form.
“We hope that the strengthening of electoral regulations and oversight going forward will be able to enhance the quality of Indonesian democracy whilst bringing forth leaders born from a political process that is honest and dignified,” said the Chairman of the House’s Community Aspiration Body (BAM).
The proposal aims to provide a deterrent effect as well as to facilitate the proof of administrative violations without having to meet the massive element requirement. Additionally, Bawaslu emphasises the need for a redefinition of money politics to encompass digital transactions such as vouchers and mobile credit, given the evolving modus operandi from conventional cash transactions.