To Prevent Money Politics, KPK Pushes for Accelerated Discussion of Cash Transaction Limitation Bill

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is pushing for the acceleration of discussions on the Bill on Cash Transaction Limitations as an effort to suppress money politics practices.

Head of the Law Enforcement and Politics Task Force at the KPK’s Monitoring Directorate, Kiagus Ibrahim, stated that the regulation is important for limiting the circulation of cash in the context of general elections.

“Why do we consider this regulation important? So far, we have not been able to limit it,” Kiagus said during a public discussion on Elections Without Cash: Solution or Illusion? at the office of the General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He explained that rules regarding the prohibition of money politics are actually regulated in the Election Law as well as the Anti-Corruption Law. However, such practices are still frequently found in the field.

“Currently, the regime, in our view, is to limit the item. So not the act, but the item we limit in the context of improving this election so that we can prevent it,” Kiagus clarified.

He assessed that limiting cash transactions could slow down and complicate cash-based money politics practices. In addition, non-cash transactions are considered easier to track by law enforcement authorities.

“Electronic transactions are easier to trace, from the perpetrators to the flow of funds. Meanwhile, cash is difficult to track,” he said.

“I agree with Mr Kiagus that regarding cash, it should actually be reduced during the election process to avoid giving money, which might stray to us because it’s related to this,” he said.

In line with that, Herwyn also emphasised that money politics based on electronic money must be addressed. “This is a collective responsibility,” he stated.