T

he ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has warned its members contesting the upcoming local elections on Dec. 9 against misusing social assistance funds (Bansos), which continues to be a source of illegal funds for political candidates.

Speaking during a ceremony to inaugurate party managers who will be in charge of running political campaigns for the Dec. 9 election, PDI-P chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri warned that she would dismiss any party member, particularly those registered as incumbents for the elections, if they were implicated in graft cases related to the Bansos fund.

'€œBear in mind that you are closely monitored. The KPK [Corruption Eradication Commission] is always on alert,'€ she said.

Megawati also encouraged party members, especially incumbent local heads, to join in efforts to solve graft cases involving the Bansos fund.

Party secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto said that the party would be self-sufficient in funding its political candidates and would not resort to graft in its search for funds.

'€œParty members who are implicated in graft will tarnish the party'€™s image. So, we have set up this initiative of Gotong Royong, where all members contribute to help each other out,'€ Hasto said.

In recent years, several local leaders have been sentenced to prison for embezzling the Bansos fund. The latest includes North Sumatra governor Gatot Pujo Nugroho.

The Home Ministry recently issued a policy prohibiting local leaders from distributing the Bansos funds only a few months ahead of the elections in an effort to avoid abuse for election purposes.

The ministry has also a conducted a thorough examination of the use of the Bansos funds by local heads.

Last year, the Jakarta-based Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA) revealed that embezzlement of the Bansos funds during 2013 had cost the country roughly Rp 2.1 trillion (US$149.1 million).

Titi Anggraini from the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) cited two common practices in the misuse of Bansos funds by local leaders. First, by illegally using the money to finance their political canvassing and second, by using the money to set up programs aimed at gaining more popularity ahead of the elections.

'€œThus, the Bansos funds are prone of being misused by incumbents because they control access to anything in their respective regions,'€ Titi said.

She expected that more party leaders would follow in the steps of Megawati by warning their politicians against resorting to corrupt practices.

'€œFormal requests for promoting honesty by party leaders is really important. It indicates the gravity of the situation,'€ she said.