REGIONAL ELECTIONS DAY

A few days ago, Indonesias had regional election day which be held on December 9. tens of millions
of Indonesian citizens went to the polls to elect the heads of government of 264 regional jurisdictions
across the country including eight Governors, 35 Mayors and 221 Regents. The elections are the first
of three rounds to elect local heads of government in the countrys 34 provinces and 514
regencies/municipalities. In elections and local elections there are various acts of fraud, like black
campaign, negative campaigning, money politics etc. The most common practice was cash
distribution (money politics), in which candidates and their campaign teams gave away money or gift
baskets of rice, sugar and other basic necessities to voters on election day. The other practices were
post-voting day payments, in which candidates gave money to local chiefs according to the number of
votes they got, and pre-voting day payments, in which candidates recruited voters as paid campaign
team officials.
To reduce the negative influence of money in politics, both in Indonesia and elsewhere, a variety of
efforts must be undertaken simultaneously. POLITICAL PARTIES MUST BE STRONGER TO
PERFORM THEIR ROLE IN SOCIETY, Political parties must also serve as the agents for change
and reform directly, by increasing their capacity to operate in a transparent and accountable manner.
CIVIL SOCIETY SHOULD SERVE AS A WATCHDOG, Leading elements in civil societymedia,
watchdog groupsshould enhance their efforts to raise awareness of and educate citizens about party
financing. LAWS AND REGULATIONS MUST GO BEYOND REGULATING FINANCES,
Regulations and reporting requirements should be developed and supported with the appropriate
financial, investigatory, and monitoring capacity to enable enforcement agencies to carry out the
intent of the law.

Jusis

: Hi Ulfa. Will you vote at regional elections day later?

Ulfa

: Of course. But I still dont know about the candidates

Jusis

: Thats easy, just wait until theyre give you some money. You can take the money and just
choose them directly.

Ulfa

: Oh my, thats so bad Jusis. It called Money Politics, right? candidates and their campaign
teams gave away money or gift baskets of rice, sugar and other basic necessities to voters

on
election day.
Jusis

: Yes, but I think its the easiest way to decide who would to be choose.

Ulfa

: But, if you accept the money, you just entrust that the candidates is a bad leader. They give
some money to reach the positions. And our country will be lead by a bad leader.

Jusis

: Well , can you explain me how to decrease the fraud?

Ulfa

: First, POLITICAL PARTIES MUST BE STRONGER TO PERFORM THEIR ROLE IN

SOCIETY, Political parties must also serve as the agents for change and reform directly, by
increasing their capacity to operate in a transparent and accountable manner. CIVIL
SOCIETY SHOULD SERVE AS A WATCHDOG, Leading elements in civil society
media, watchdog groupsshould enhance their efforts to raise awareness of and educate
citizens about party financing. LAWS AND REGULATIONS MUST GO BEYOND
REGULATING FINANCES, Regulations and reporting requirements should be developed
and supported with the appropriate financial, investigatory, and monitoring capacity to
enable enforcement agencies to carry out the intent of the law.

Jusis

: Ok Ulfa, thanks for your information. And from now, Ill choose the right leader.

Ulfa

: Your welcome Jusis.