TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The House of Representatives passed the second amendment to law on regional elections during the plenary session held on Thursday, June 3, 2016. The amendment includes an article that defines money politics and the sanctions.

"The House of Representatives and the government have agreed that money politics will be sanctioned with prison sentence of fine," Rambe Kamarulzaman, House of Representatives' Commission II chairman overseeing home affairs, said during the plenary session on Thursday, June 2, 2016.

Rambe added that candidates involved in money politics would be disqualified.

The provision is set forth in article 73 banning candidate and campaign teams handing over money or other materials to influence election committee or voters. Both giver and recipient of the money will be charged with prison sentence up to 72 months, as well as a fine of Rp 1 billion.

In a bid to prevent money politics, the House and the government have agreed to extend National Elections Supervisory Agency's (Bawaslu) authority to make decisions related money politics cases. The General Elections Commission (KPU) is required to follow up the decisions within three days and decide sanctions for candidates who violate the regulation.

Sanctioned candidates may file a motion with the Supreme Court (MA) within three days since the KPU issue the decision.

AHMAD FAIZ