Considered A Lie About Campaign Funds, Anies Reported To Bawaslu

Presidential Candidate Anies Baswedan. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Because they are considered lying about campaign funds, the presidential and vice-presidential candidates number 1 Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar (AMIN) were reported to the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu). The campaign funds are only Rp. 1 billion in contrast to the reality on the ground.

Reports to Bawaslu were carried out by a collection of advocates from Lingkar Nusantara (Lisan). The head of LISAN, Hendarsam Marantoko, said that the report to Bawaslu was made on Friday, December 22.

"When the AMIN pair only included the initial funds for the campaign of only Rp. 1 billion, it was very odd," said Hendarsam, Sunday, December 24.

According to Hendarsam, this figure is unrealistic when viewed from the activities of their campaign. If it is calculated from the cost of private jets and renting a successful team office in the Menteng area, it is quite high.

"If we try to count roughly, the cost of renting a luxury office in an elite area, private jets for campaign activities to 38 provinces, as well as billboards, is it possible that it will be enough with only Rp. 1 billion?" he said.

This doubt led Lisan to report to Bawaslu. The AMIN pair allegedly manipulated the campaign's initial funding data.

Hendarsam also took an example from the experience of the 2017 DKI Pilgub. At that time, he said, the pair Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno spent more than IDR 50 billion.

"It is difficult to understand that campaign funds for the provincial governorship level are much higher than the highest contestation in Indonesia, namely the presidential and vice elections," explained Hendarsam.

However, Hendarsam also explained that the big funds in 2017 were indeed campaign funds spent until the final.

Hendarsam added that it would not be good if the AMIN pair manipulated the campaign's initial funds only for the sake of imaging. It was as if the AMIN pair only used small funds, and they were supported a lot from the participation funds of their supporters.

With the AMIN pair not being transparent in reporting the initial funds for the campaign, Hendarsam is worried about transparency in the future.

"If from the start it is not transparent, how will it be when you are the President. Let's look at it together, so that this nation will be led by someone with high integrity and not be manipulative towards its own nation," said Hendarsam