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KPU to scrutinize candidates’ campaign fund reports
The General Elections Commission (KPU) is set to examine the campaign financing of regional head candidate pairs by auditing their campaign fund reports with assistance from public accounting offices.
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All set — General Elections Commission (KPU) commissioners Arief Budiman (right) and Hadar Nafis Gumay show examples of tactile ballot papers for blind voters during a press conference at the KPU office in Jakarta on Jan. 4. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
T
he General Elections Commission (KPU) is set to examine the campaign financing of regional head candidate pairs by auditing their campaign fund reports with assistance from public accounting offices.
KPU commissioner Arief Budiman said the commission had set a regulation requiring all leader candidates to submit campaign reports three times.
“All candidates are mandated to submit an initial report on their campaign funds and donations to KPU offices in their respective regions. Later, they are also required to submit their balance reports,” Arief told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
He explained that candidates had submitted initial campaign fund reports and donation reports in October and December last year, respectively.
On Feb. 12, a day after the campaign period ends, all candidates have to submit balance sheets that will detail their income and spending, Arief said.
“These [balance] reports will be audited by public accounting offices we have appointed. The accountants will note whether or not the candidates received and disbursed campaign funds in line with existing regulations,” he said.
(Read also: No smear campaigns reported so far: Bawaslu)
By law, the maximum amount of contributions allowed for a gubernatorial candidate is Rp 75 million (US$5,625) from individuals and Rp 750 million from private companies. Donors should also submit data such as a copy of their identity and taxpayer cards.
Arief admitted that it was possible for candidates to not report their actual spending and income to the commission. The KPU had no mechanism to trace such issues, although it cooperated with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), he said.
Therefore, Arief said, the KPU encouraged public participation in reporting irregularities in candidates’ campaign fund reports to the commission. The reports will be published on its official website.
Arief said the KPU was committed to following up on public reports by investigating reported irregularities to determine whether candidates had violated the law. (ebf)
