By: Maya Naura Lingga )*
Ahead of the implementation of the 2024 General Election (Pemilu), supervision is increasingly tightened. Not only securing the campaign period, but also preventing money politics. The community helps Bawaslu in monitoring and reporting if there is money politics going on around them.
The 2024 elections are planned to be held on February 14, 2024. The public is urged to hold peaceful elections and maintain unity. In addition, elections must be carried out on an honest and fair basis, because the goal is to find new Indonesian leaders who will bring progress.
Honesty in elections is emphasized because it is the key to its success. But it’s a shame that there is a threat of money politics in the 2024 election. Money politics is usually carried out by unscrupulous legislative candidates or party cadres who want to win the election but in an incorrect way.
Money politics occurs during the campaign period until a few hours before the presidential/party election period. An example is giving an envelope filled with money so that someone chooses a certain candidate. Then, there is also the distribution of groceries, scarves, t-shirts, or other items that aim to win these candidates during the election.
Another purpose of money politics is not to vote for a particular candidate. This money politics aims to overthrow other candidates so that they lose the election. The person who did it also aims to thwart the election because it could be that the voter does not vote for any candidate so that many do white groups (abstentions).
Member of the Republic of Indonesia DPR, Supriansa stated that he agrees with the judges of the Constitutional Court (MK) who decided that the quality of democracy must be better by preventing the occurrence of money politics. The practice of money politics can occur in a closed proportional or open proportional system.
An open proportional system is an electoral system that allows the people to elect several representatives of the people in an electoral district (dapil) who are members of a political party. This system has been used by Indonesia in previous elections.
Meanwhile, a closed proportional system is an electoral system that allows the people to vote for parties, so they cannot elect the people’s representatives personally. Currently there is talk that the election will return to a closed proportional system as in the 2014 and previous elections.
When there is a closed or open proportional system, there is a threat of money politics. Therefore, the election must be monitored closely, so that no money politics can disrupt or thwart this grand event.
Supriansa encouraged the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) to carry out strict supervision, especially ahead of the upcoming 2024 elections. Law enforcement for the perpetrators of money politics must also be carried out fairly. The legal basis for election violations is Article 73 paragraph 3 of Law Number 3 of 1999. It contains:
Any person who at the time of holding general elections according to this law by giving or promising to bribe someone, either so that that person does not exercise his right to vote or so that he exercises his right in a certain way, shall be punished with a maximum imprisonment of three years. The penalty is also imposed on voters who accept bribes in the form of gifts or promises to do something.
Bawaslu strictly prohibits the practice of money politics in the 2019 election. Givers and recipients can be punished. Political observer Suhardi stated that perpetrators and recipients of money politics could be charged with the Election Law No. 7 of 2017, with criminal sanctions in the form of imprisonment for three years and a fine of up to 36 million rupiah.
The practice of money politics carried out during calm times will be subject to more severe sanctions. The criminal threat is imprisonment for a maximum of four years and a fine of up to 46 million rupiah.
In fact, for candidates who are proven guilty of money politics or the dawn attack, they are then sentenced to a court of law with permanent legal force or inrah, so even if the candidate is elected as a member of the council, it can be annulled. The perpetrators and recipients of bribes will be severely punished.
Bawaslu also invites the public to be actively involved in participating in monitoring during the calm period. Supervision during quiet times will be more optimal with the involvement of the wider community.
The public must have the courage to report to Bawaslu if they find any election violations, for example the practice of money politics or the dawn attack. The practice of money politics is a crime of democracy that cannot be tolerated. Don’t be afraid, if any suspicion of a dawn attack is found, the public is welcome to report it to Bawaslu officers.
Furthermore, Bawaslu already has monitoring devices down to the TPS level. It will maximize supervision. TPS supervisors are expected to be able to minimize and prevent various potential election violations during quiet times. Bawaslu is committed to creating democratic and dignified elections.
Don’t practice money politics ahead of the 2024 general election, because it could derail the grand event of this democratic party. Money politics can make elections chaotic because many abstain after receiving bribes. When there is a practice of money politics, it also violates the principle of an honest and fair election.
)* The author is a contributor to Nusantara Reading Room
