Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has raised concerns about the inclusion of former corruption convicts in the provisional list of legislative candidates for the 2024 elections.
ICW identified 12 former corruption convicts in the list published by the General Election Commission last Saturday.
Kurnia Ramadhana, a researcher from ICW, questioned the stance and commitment of political parties towards combating corruption, given their endorsement of former corruption convicts as potential legislative candidates.
He expressed disappointment that political parties continue to support individuals with corruption convictions as candidates for legislative or regional council positions.
“Political parties should not accept them, especially when these parties repeatedly promise to combat corruption,” Kurnia stated yesterday.
Kurnia believes these facts indicate that political parties are still neglecting their commitment to fighting corruption.
Furthermore, Kurnia expressed disappointment in the Election Commission’s decision to issue Regulation No. 10 of 2023 on the Nomination of Members of the House of Representatives and Regional Representative Council, as well as Regulation No. 11 of 2023 on the Nomination of Members of the Regional Representative Council.
These regulations allow former corruption convicts to become legislative candidates or senators even before completing a mandatory five-year waiting period following their court convictions.
The names in question
ICW disclosed the names of the 12 former corruption convicts listed in the provisional candidate list on August 25, 2023. Among them are Abdillah, Rahudman Harahap, Susno Duadji, Nurdin Halid, Al Amin Nasution, Rokhmin Dahuri, Patrice Rio Capella, Dody Rondonuwu, Emir Moeis, Irman Gusman, and Cinde Laras Yulianto.
Half of these individuals are registered as candidates for the House of Representatives from various political parties.
Abdillah and Rahudman are candidates for the NasDem Party, Susno is affiliated with the Nation Awakening Party, Nurdin represents Golkar Party, while Al Amin and Rokhmin are associated with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).
The remaining six individuals are listed as candidates for the Regional Representative Council (DPD) in different provinces, including Patrice in Bengkulu, Dody and Emir in East Kalimantan, Irman in West Sumatra, and Cinde in DI Yogyakarta.
