Zulhas Invites KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri To Push For The Abolition Of The 20 Percent Presidential Threshold Rule

Chairman of the National Mandate Party Zulkifli Hasan/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Zulkifli Hasan said the 20 percent presidential threshold (PT) was burdensome. He hopes that all parties, including the chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli, can encourage the suggestion of removing the threshold.

This was conveyed by him after participating in a corruption prevention activity at the KPK entitled Politics of Smart and Integrity at the ACLC KPK building, Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, today, Wednesday, May 25.

"The law that regulates the regional elections is 20 percent, all 20 percent of it makes us transactional. That's not good. I said earlier, 'chief, please help the KPK to also encourage' because it is our shared responsibility so that these conditions are abolished," Zulhas said to journalist.

"Because we are a democracy," he added.

There are several other suggestions that Zulkifli also conveyed to Firli, including to encourage the financing of witnesses during the general election (election).

"The two that are incriminating against political parties are witnesses. Well, thank you, actually, the KPK has proposed it first, the witnesses are financed by the state," he said.

Furthermore, PAN also urged that the campaign does not need to be long. He said that two weeks of campaigning was actually sufficient as long as it was financed by the government.

"The campaign shouldn't take too long to do the campaign for up to five months. Two weeks is enough but it is financed by the government, the TV, the advertisements, that's it," said Zulhas.

The KPK today held a briefing on PAN at the ACLC KPK building, Rasuna Said, South Jakarta. Acting KPK Spokesperson for Prevention Ipi Maryati said this meeting was a follow-up to the executive briefing of 20 political party leaders on 18 May 2022. This event started at 09.00 WIB until 12.00 WIB.

At that moment, Firli Bahuri who was present gave a lecture on corruption and building the integrity of political parties in the event later. It is hoped that the lecture will raise political awareness so that the general election (Pemilu) will be clean and free from corruption.

"In addition, there will also be a dialogue session discussing strategic efforts and initiatives, achievements, challenges and obstacles faced by political parties in eradicating corruption as well as efforts to develop a political culture with integrity," said Ipi.