Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Hugua, a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faction in the House of Representatives Commission II, calls for the legalization of money politics in the 2024 Regional Elections.

Hugua made this proposal during a working meeting of the House of Representatives Commission II with the General Election Commission (KPU), Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), the Election Organizer Honorary Council (DKPP), and the Ministry of Home Affairs in Jakarta on Wednesday,

"Don't you think we should consider legalizing money politics in the KPU regulations with certain limitations? Because money politics is inevitable," said Hugua.

According to Hugua, money politics has become a norm in society. Therefore, he proposed legalizing it with certain limitations, referred to as "political costs."

"So, if in these KPU regulations, the term money politics is replaced with political costs and is discussed to be legalized, with a limit on how much so that Bawaslu also knows that the limit must be enforced. Because if this is not legalized, we will continue to play hide and seek, and those who will win in the future are the merchants," explained Hugua.

Hugua further emphasized that contests with money politics have a negative impact, especially on candidates who do not have capital.

"So it's better if we just legalize it with certain limits. For example, a maximum of Rp 20,000, Rp 50,000, Rp 1,000,000, or Rp 5,000,000," concluded Hugua.

Hugua, a former Regent of Wakatobi, was summoned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in November 2020 to be questioned as a witness in a case involving fictitious projects totaling Rp 209 billion conducted by the state-owned construction company Waskita Karya between 2015 and 2019. Hugua is suspected of receiving funds from these fictitious projects.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/pdip-lawmaker-urges-legalization-of-money-politics-in-election