Well-known aspirants yet to declare their wealth

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A number of public figures who top the lists of legislative candidates representing their respective parties are among those who have not yet submitted all the required documents, including wealth declarations, to qualify for this April's election.

General Elections Commission member Anas Urbaningrum revealed on Thursday the among the well-known figures who had failed to submit all the necessary documents were President Megawati Soekarnoputri's husband, Taufik Kiemas, who plans to stand in West Java.

Anas, who is in charge of the verification of legislative candidates, said Taufiq had not yet submitted his Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) membership card.

Meanwhile, Taufiq's brother, Santayana Kiemas, who is also representing the PDI-P, had failed to present his party membership card and his wealth declaration.

Unlike in previous elections, all legislative candidates for the upcoming polls have to declare their assets as part of the country's faltering drive against corruption.

As of Wednesday, only 1,812 out of the 8,871 candidates had passed the administrative screening required before they will be allowed to contest the legislative elections, scheduled for April 5.

Vice President Hamzah Haz's son, Nur Agus Haz, of the United Development Party (PPP), had also still to submit his wealth declaration and sign a statement saying he would run for the legislative election, Anas said.

Agus tops the PPP's list of candidates in Jakarta.

In the spirit of keeping it in the family, the son of Reform Star Party chairman Zainuddin MZ, Fikri Haikal, was another of the candidates who has failed to declare his wealth to the KPU. He also failed to submit a medical certificate and certificate of good conduct from the court.

Social Democratic Labor Party (PBSD) leader Muchtar Pakpahan has yet to submit his wealth declaration and residential status certificate from the district chief in the place where he resides.

Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Hidayat Nur Wahid, PBR chairman Zaenuddin MZ, National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Alwi Shihab and United Democratic Nationhood Party (PPDK) chairman Ryaas Rasyid were also listed as well-known candidates who had not presented wealth declarations.

Alwi had also failed to submit his photograph and a declaration stating his intention of standing in the legislative election.

The KPU announced on Tuesday that no PKB candidate had passed the administrative verification process.

Former attorney general, Andi M. Ghalib, who has joined the PPP, has also failed to pass the preliminary verification process due to his failure to submit a wealth declaration, as has political observer Andi Mallarangeng, who will represent the PPDK.

A party membership card was the only document missing from the file of noted economist Didiek Rachbini, who will represent the National Mandate Party (PAN).

The KPU has given the candidates until Jan. 19 to furnish the missing documents or otherwise they will be disqualified from standing. The commission will announce all the eligible candidates on Jan. 28 and Jan. 29.

The KPU also announced that no parties had fulfilled the 30 percent quota for women candidates in a total of 69 electoral districts.

Meanwhile, the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB) had fulfilled the minimum 30 percent quota in 50 electoral districts, the New Indonesian Alliance Party (Partai PIB) in 46, PAN in 40, PBR in 30, the Prosperous Peace Party in 26, Golkar in 25, the Regional United Party (PPD) in 16, PKB in 13, and the PDI-P in 11.