Jenny Grant, Jakarta – Indonesia's ruling Golkar party could threaten the credibility of June's general election if it resorts to vote-buying, the nation's top electoral official warned yesterday.
Rudini, the chairman of the General Election Commission, said Golkar was ready to "play dirty" by buying votes and forcing the private sector to donate campaign funds.
"Golkar needs 1.2 trillion rupiah [HK$1.1 billion] to win the general election. They are using their ministers to press entrepreneurs for that," said the retired general.
Logging companies were being warned their permits would be cancelled if they did not contribute to Golkar funds, Mr Rudini said.
"Many ministers use their influence over industries and entrepreneurs who have to build a relationship with them or their department," said the former home affairs minister. Mr Rudini said other threats to the vote's credibility included handing out rice to the poor, bribing governors to deliver the votes of the people over whom they ruled and suggesting these officials would not get a second term in office if Golkar did not get the votes.
Mr Rudini said he had received information that members of the Indonesian Wood Paneling Association (Apkindo) had already been asked to donate US$3 million towards Golkar's campaign.
Apkindo executive Tjipto Wignyoprayitno denied his organisation was under pressure from Golkar and said Apkindo was merely handing out basic goods for the poor.
If Golkar's money politicking succeeded in winning the party a large share of the votes, Mr Rudini said other parties would reject the outcome of the poll. "That means the election would fail and there could be chaos," he said.
A dispute has already flared between the election commission and the Government that threatens to undermine the power of the three-week-old body.
President Bacharuddin Habibie has challenged the commission's decision that ministers and other government officials will not be allowed to campaign for the June 7 elections. The Supreme Court is to rule on the challenge shortly.
Mr Rudini said Golkar leaders had threatened not to nominate Mr Habibie for president if he did not agree to let most ministers campaign.
The election commission's chief warned that if the Supreme Court decided in the Government's favour, there could be renewed demonstrations and civil unrest that could put Mr Habibie's political future in jeopardy.