Presidential campaign expenses must be regulated to guarantee transparency and provide an equal opportunity for candidates with or without capital support, observers said Monday.

The presidential election bill, which is currently being deliberated at the House of Representatives, only regulates candidates' campaign contribution. The draft law allows candidates to receive donations from individuals or groups, including private businesses, but not from state-owned companies.

The new bill limits individual donations to Rp 1 billion (US$108,696) per person, while donations from groups are capped at Rp 5 billion.

A legal expert from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Denny Indrayana, said limits should be imposed on all candidates' campaign expenses.

"This will help the auditing of campaign funds. Without limits, how do we know when candidates' spending has exceeded their reported campaign funds," he said during a hearing with the House's special committee deliberating the bill.

Denny said limiting campaign expenses would create a fairer competition.

"It will provide more opportunities for candidates, including those who don't have much money."

He cited campaign advertising as an area where spending is limited.

"The candidates' expenditures are limited by regulating the maximum duration for their campaign advertisements on television," he said.

Former General Elections Commission (KPU) member Valina Singka Subekti raised the possibility of more exhaustive audits of candidates' campaign funds.

"In the last election, the audit was only a normal audit by which public auditors asked for clarification from the candidates when something questionable was found. Maybe the House should consider the possibility of implementing a kind of investigative audit," she said.

The new bill gives public auditors more time to examine the candidates' reports on campaign funds. They have 30 days to audit a report, from 15 days in the last election.

Valina also proposed the idea of imposing tougher sanctions for those who manipulate their funds report. The bill has stipulated sanctions, which include criminal punishment and cancellation of their candidacy.

"What if the manipulation is found after a candidate is elected as president? Is it possible to dismiss the president because of this?" she asked.

Political observer Kacung Marijan from Airlangga University in Surabaya said transparency in campaign funds was essential because the Indonesian public had become more tolerant of money politics.

"Surveys in several regions show that about 25 percent of eligible voters will change their mind after receiving money (from candidates)," he said.

Denny said the basic principle in regulating campaign funds was to guarantee public access to information on the funds. He suggested the House formulate legislation specifically to address the issue of campaign funds. (alf)

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