Pushing the envelope: Money politics mars Indonesian poll by tom_allard Jessica Damiana
JAKARTA - Shanti Ramchand learned quickly what was expected when she began campaigning in Jakarta for Indonesia’s national parliament – distribute envelopes of cash at a small campaign event, and gift a motorcycle or an air-conditioning unit to the community leader.
Envelopes, usually stuffed with cash ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 rupiah , are commonly doled out to voters. These are small amounts, but the overall cost can be huge over a six month campaign. Two politicians from the National Mandate Party, part of the opposition coalition headed by former general Prabowo Subianto, were sentenced to three months in prison in December for distributing coupons for the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca to voters. They will not be disqualified from running for office again.
“That’s right. Check the background of the candidate. Ask them about their programs. Your voice can’t be bought.” The going rate for a serious run for one of 560 seats in the national legislature is about 10 billion rupiah, or $708,000, according to the former deputy chief of the KPK, Busyro Muqoddas.A spokesman for the campaign team of Widodo, Ace Hasan Syadzily, said his own party, Golkar, does not demand a political dowry but conceded “vote buying does happen”. The president was against money politics, he added.
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