Money Politics Is Cured Due To Weak Law Enforcement And Unsurprisingly Prosperous Communities

Residents showed writing about the rejection of money politics on Motor Vehicle Free Day (HBKB) in front of the Bawaslu building, Jakarta, Sunday (28/1/2024). (Between/Hafidz Mubarak A/rwa)

JAKARTA Money politics or money politics seems inseparable from the General Election period (Pemilu) which is only two weeks away. Money politics is considered to damage democracy, but why is it still happening?

The head of the West Java Regional Campaign Team (TKD) for the presidential and vice presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Ridwan Kamil, was questioned by the West Java Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu).

Bawaslu's examination of Ridwan Kamil, Monday (29/1/2024), was related to the alleged violation of the election by the former Governor of West Java.

Recently, Ridwan Kamil's viral video used the attributes of the pair of presidential and vice presidential candidates number two in the activities of the Village Consultative Body (BPD) in Tasikmalaya Regency.

In the video footage circulating, the man who is familiarly called Kang Emil sings and dances on stage and is watched by dozens of participants. Not only that, Ridwan Kamil also gave some money to the people who danced on stage.

Ridwan Kamil is not the only one caught distributing money during the campaign. At the end of 2023, a video clip of Miftah Maulana Habiburrahman or Gus Miftah distributing money to the public went viral on social media. The video shows someone behind Gus Miftah showing Prabowo Subianto's shirt.

However, Gus Miftah explained that his activities did not relate to campaigns or politics. He denied that the distribution of money was due to certain interests.

"No, at all," said Gus Miftah when confirmed.

Money politics is the main enemy in every implementation of democracy, both at the national and local levels. The practice of money politics is carried out by giving money and basic necessities with the aim of attracting public sympathy so that they vote on the party concerned.

This illegal practice is always present in almost every election. As if it has become a culture, the candidates are competing to spend rupiah to gain votes.

Even though it has become a common secret, and is considered like a foreigner who undermines democracy, in fact the practice of money politics is difficult to eliminate in the country. In fact, those involved in money politics can be threatened with crime.

The prohibition of money politics is contained in Article 278 paragraph (2), 280 paragraph (1) letters j, 284, 286 paragraph (1), 515 and 523 of Law no. 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections.

Seperti Pasal 280 ayat (1) huruf j menyebutkan, Penyelenggara, peserta hingga tim kampanye dilarang menjanjikan atau memberikan uang atau materi lainnya kepada peserta kampanye Pemilu'.

Not long ago, the Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) of the Nunukan Police named a legislative candidate for the Nunukan DPRD from the Democratic Party, SR (22) as a money political suspect.

SR conducts money politics at volleyball sports activities in residential areas of Jalan Sedadap, South Nunukan District. From the video footage submitted to Bawaslu, SR is known to provide money or other materials to the public.

But SR is only one of the many practices of money politics that have occurred in society. The question is, why is it difficult to take firm action against money politics players, even though this illegal practice may occur in almost all regions.

Criminal law observer Masykur Isnan said it was not easy to prove the occurrence of political practices so that the illegal practice continued to repeat itself.

"It is not easy to prove the existence of a polymer politics. It takes faith from all parties, especially from the election organizers, in this case Bawaslu, who does have the authority," said Masykur Isnan to VOI.

"Indeed, this is a big homework, but Bawaslu also cannot work alone. It takes community participation who dares to report indications of money politics by participants or political contestants," he added.

Apart from the person who gave the money, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that the practice of money politics is still happening in Indonesia because 50 percent of society is not yet prosperous. In addition, the level of public education that is not yet good is also one of the causes of massive money politics.

"Why is the polymer politics still running? I have to say that 50 percent of our society is not prosperous and more than 50 percent of the education level is not good. That is actually an absolute requirement if we want our democracy to be healthy," said KPK Deputy Chair Alexander Marwata at a press conference at the KPK Building in August 2023.

The public cannot only hope for a candidate for leader with integrity while the community as voters also does not have integrity. According to Alexander, the public must be encouraged to refuse every offer and it is not only the task of the KPK.

On the other hand, Masykur Isnan added, political contestation requires meaningful participation from the community to ensure substantive democracy and not just cow trade politics.

"The quality of the leader in the future is determined today, the community must be observant in measuring and measuring the election participants during the campaign process," said Masykur Isnan.

"Of course, whoever plays dirty will bring impurity as long as the person concerned carries out the mandate," he concluded.