Watchdog oversees election

PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: Corruption Watchdog here stepped up its monitoring of the upcoming election of the West Kalimantan governor to avoid money politics.

Corruption Watchdog Gemawan branch chairman Hermawansyah, said on Monday there was a high chance money politics would be involved in the election, if the recent election of Pontianak's mayor was anything to go by.

He said the money involved in selecting a regent or mayor reached tens of million of rupiah, therefore the amount would be higher at the provincial level.

The province will elect its governor and deputy governor for 2003 to 2008 on Dec. 12.

Hermawansyah acknowledged it would be a difficult fight as Indonesia had no specific law to combat the practice. Even if the law existed, he added, the government did not have the courage to use it. -- Antara