Indonesians are hiring themselves out to attend campaign rallies as parties struggle to drum up enthusiasm before next month's general election.

"Accept campaign orders from any political party," read one sign erected by motorcycle taxi drivers in the capital, according to the Jakarta Post.

The going rate is 50,000 rupiah (six dollars) per person, a respectable sum in a country where about half the population lives on less than two dollars a day.

Some 24 parties began campaigning on March 11 for the April 5 election. But media reports and witnesses say attendance at party meetings is low compared to the 1999 polls, which were the first free elections for over four decades.

Under campaign rules, parties are only supposed to hold indoor meetings until the last week, when mass rallies are permitted.

Sociologist Imam Prasodjo, quoted by the Post, said people were donning different party T-shirts each day to boost their incomes.

"People are smarter now. Politicians offer them empty promises and they respond by taking the money offered by a certain political party but voting for another in the elections," he was quoted as saying.

Voters are also showered with small gifts bearing party labels such as bottled water, instant noodles, sweets, calendars and cigarettes. The economy ministry expects election spending to push economic growth up to five percent this year.

Voters should, however, be wary of politicians bearing gifts. The central bank said Thursday the amount of counterfeit money in circulation in January-February had more than tripled over the same period last year. The amount of fake money always rises in an election year, said central bank governor Burhanuddin Abdullah.