Well-known aspirants yet to declare their wealth

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.