ICW Urges KPU to Disclose Information on Campaign Donators

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Corruption watchdog Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) urged the General Election Commission (KPU) to disclose details on the identity of donators of campaign funds listed in the Campaign Fund Income and Donation Report (LPSDK) of the 2024 election candidates.

Egi Primayogha, Head of ICW's Political Corruption Division, stated that the KPU must disclose information on corporate and individual donators of election candidates.

"We urged the KPU to open access and disclose all information as requested by ICW, without exception," Egi said through a written statement on Frinday, March 15, 2024.

According to Egi, if the information is disclosed, it can help in revealing the people who turned the Indonesian political climate into a transactional practice.

"It even often leads to corruption," Egi said.

ICW's Unanswered Request for Information

Previously on March 13, 2024, the Central Information Commission (KIP) held a dispute hearing against the General Election Commission (KPU). The hearing was the result of ICW's unanswered request for information to the KPU on June 11, 2023.

Among the requested information were reports on campaign funds from 2014 to 2023 for legislative elections and presidential elections, a list of campaign teams in all general elections from 2014 to 2019, as well as the curriculum vitae of all legislative candidates and candidates for regional heads from 2014 to 2022.

During the information dispute hearing, KPU representatives present affirmed that they would not provide information regarding curriculum vitae and campaign fund information systems. KPU argued that this information was exempted from public access.

"The Commission Council reprimanded the KPU for such exemptions being made without prior consequence testing, as stipulated by the Public Information Disclosure Law," said Egi.

Campaign Fund Information is Open Information, KPU Says

KPU stated that information regarding campaign fund reports and campaign team lists is open information; therefore, the hearing process proceeded to mediation between ICW and KPU. However, in this process, KPU refused to disclose in detail the contributors to the campaign funds listed in the LPDSK. Despite ICW emphasizing the urgency of disclosing the names of corporate and individual contributors to election participants in detail.

KPU insisted on disclosing this information on the grounds of concern that the individual names would fall into the category of personal data.

According to Egi, KPU's argumentation shows its failure to understand the entrenched problem of election corruption, namely, contributions from certain parties influencing public policy-making.

"In giving contributions, these parties often hope to receive rewards when candidates win the election contest. In return, candidates who have held public office often seize public resources," said Egi.

ICW urges KPU to reconsider the spirit of transparency and information openness enshrined at least in the Public Information Disclosure Law and the Election Law. Additionally, ICW requests KPU not to protect political oligarchs who potentially steer public policy for their own interests.

EKA YUDHA SAPUTRA

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