PPP may expel 'corrupt members'

The United Development Party (PPP) said it would expel party members found guilty of accepting money from people hoping to run in the Jakarta gubernatorial race as deputy governor candidates.

PPP secretary general Irgan Chairul Mahfiz said Saturday the party will hold an emergency meeting this week to discuss the issue, as such allegations tarnish the party's image.

"Please inform us of those who accepted the money so we can take legal action against them," he was quoted as saying by Antara.

The comment was made following a statement from Djasri Marin, a former military police chief, saying he paid Rp 50 million for PPP support to be the running mate of Fauzi Bowo, a gubernatorial candidate from the Jakarta Coalition.

Djasri said he also paid Rp 30 million to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Former Jakarta military commander Slamet Kirbiantoro has made similar claims, Antara reported.

The two retired generals are among several military figures who were seeking support from political parties in the coalition to run for the post of vice governor.

However, the coalition, which is made up of parties including PDI-P, PPP, the Democratic Party and the Golkar Party, named Army Maj. (ret) Prijanto as Fauzi's running mate in the gubernatorial election to be held in August.

PDI-P and Golkar have also urged the generals to reveal the names of those who received payments.

Political experts said they are not surprised about the huge payments offered to the parties due to the absence of policy regulating the matter.

"Regional elections are an opportunity for parties to fill up their coffers with money from those interested in running as candidates," Andrinof Chaniago from Indonesia University told The Jakarta Post.

Under the 2004 Regional Autonomy Law, candidates must be nominated by a political party or a coalition of parties to qualify for regional elections.

A candidate must also have the backing of parties with a combined total of at least 15 percent of votes from the region's last legislative election.

"However, there is no explicit ordinance on how the parties net candidates," Andrinof said.

"We hope that because generals are among the victims of this unfair system, relevant legislative changes will be made. Revisions are now under deliberation in the House of Representatives," he said.

"The failed candidates will have difficulty reclaiming their money if no written agreement was made beforehand," he said.

Fachry Ali, a political analyst, said money politics would continue to tarnish the image of political parties.

"The public may not continue to support certain political parties if the only people to benefit are groups from within the party," he said.

The results of a survey released this week by Paramadina University and Indo Barometer revealed that 30 percent of eligible Indonesian voters preferred academics and intellectuals to politicians as the best regional heads.

Source : www.thejakartapost.com