Mega-Pro’s campaign fund up to Rp 20 billion

Within less than a week Presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate Prabowo Subianto have recorded an increase of around Rp 4.5 billion (US$441,000) in their campaign fund to Rp 20 billion, the General Elections Commission (KPU) said on Tuesday.
 
The commission also revealed that the campaign fund of incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and his running mate had rose by around Rp 225 million to Rp 20.3 billion, while the presidential ticket of Jusuf Kalla and Wiranto recorded a Rp 250 million increase in campaign fund to Rp 10.25 billion.
 
“Prabowo is the highest contributor to the Megawati and Prabowo team with Rp15 billion, while Megawati contributes Rp5 billion,” KPU chairman Abdul Hafidz Anshary said.

The KPU announced initial campaign fund of the three candidates on Friday, which saw SBY and Boediono top the list with Rp 20.75 billion.
 
The top contributor to the campaign fund of the SBY and Boediono team are private companies PT Sohibul Barokah with Rp 5 billion, PT Tri Manunggal Cipta Abadi with Rp 3.5 billion and PT Sohibul Internasional with Rp3.5 billion, while Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party (PD) contributed Rp 50 million.
 
The Golkar Party invested Rp7 billion and the People’s Conscience (Hanura) Party raised Rp3 billion in campaign fund for the Kalla and Wiranto team, Abdul Hafidz added.
 
Presidential Election Law No. 42/2008 limits corporate contribution to a presidential ticket to Rp 5 billion and individual donation to Rp 1 billion, but does not limit donations from political parties or the candidates themselves. (fmb)