Agus Maryono, Purwokerto – The Constitution Court's Regulation No. 8/2008 on granting legislative seats to candidates who win the most votes, rather than handing out seats according to the age-old practice of party hierarchies, could spark an explosion in the practice of money politics, experts say.

The practice will be more widespread because the democratization process, especially in Central Java, has not yet taken full effect, Rubiyanto Misman, former rector of Jendral Soedirman University, said Saturday in Purwokerto.

"Money politics is inevitable because legislative candidates will compete against each other without necessarily thinking about the hierarchy used in earlier elections," he said.

"One of the most effective ways to entice voters is with money. This is the downside of the regulation. But the regulation has also its upside in that it opens the democratic tap fairly, gives chances to the candidates to compete without any fear of intervention from their party's board of management."

However, Rubiyanto reiterated that in general, Indonesians were not quite ready yet for an open democracy, citing regional elections in several provinces and cities that were plagued by money politics.

"In Banyumas, for instance, the example is very real. The elected regent during the election in 2008 was a candidate who was not popular at all previously. He became well-known because of money. but the fact is he was the one who got elected," he said.

"Frankly I'm worried, because with such a spirit, the people will only choose candidates who give them money, no matter how capable they are. If this persists, it will be very dangerous," he said, adding the danger would come from shoddily worked-out regional and national regulations drafted by incompetent legislators.

Moreover, he went on, candidates with adequate capability and popularity risked being shunned by voters simply because they did not offer them cash.

"Therefore, with the issuance of this regulation, all parties who are concerned about this nation have to jointly conduct political education for the people, especially on how to choose only high-quality candidates," Rubiyanto stressed.

He added that education on political ethics must be enforced from junior high school level to enable students to learn about democracy, saying, "If necessary, it can be given to elementary school students too so that when they are eligible to vote, they are prepared both in mind and spirit."

Muhaimin, a politician from the National Awakening Party's (PKB) Banyumas office, expressed similar sentiments, saying the practice of money politics was already rife.

"A friend of mine at the legislative council spent about Rp 50 million (US$4,500) to be disbursed in regional visits, even though the campaign period hasn't started yet," he said.

He added the new regulation would force candidates who previously held favorable spots in their parties' hierarchies to steal attention and sympathy from the public by, among others, giving out money.

"Yes, we all need money, given the high prices these days," said Rohmanudin, 45, a pedicab driver.