KPU wants campaign fund transparency
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The General Election Commission (KPU) is polishing a draft regulation that would require political parties to disclose details on individuals or companies that provide campaign donations.
KPU commissioner Ferry Kurnia Rizkiyansyah said that the election body had completed the draft and would soon start deliberations with the government and the House of Representatives.
Ferry said that as part of the planned regulation political parties would not be allowed to put “anonymous” on their list of campaign donors.
He also said that campaign donors contributing more than 30 million rupiah would be required to provide their tax numbers on the list.
“Also the names of donors must be stated clearly. We will not allow donors to write down ‘hamba Allah’ [God’s servant] as their names,” Ferry said as quoted by kompas.com.
It is also expected that the KPU would require political parties contesting the 2014 elections to submit regular campaign finance reports.
“At least once every three months, they [parties] report to us,” Ferry said over the weekend.
Ferry said the poll body had also struck a deal with the Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) regarding a joint investigation into possible campaign fund violations.
“We are still working on the details,” Ferry said. The graft watchdog, Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), had previously warned there could be a possible resurgence of political corruption in 2013.
ICW said that due to the weak implementation of ill-conceived political party financing regulations, almost all parties would seek campaign funds from illicit sources, including government budget allocations.
ICW also said that Golkar had the largest number of members implicated in corruption cases, followed by the Democratic Party.
With more politicians potentially earning money from illicit sources, the Corruption Eradication Commission has pledged to step up preventive measures.
Political parties have often ignored demands to release details of their financial management, although Law No 14/2008 on public information stipulates that it is the obligation of political parties, as public institutions, to provide the public with information within 30 days of receiving a request.
