Golkar's Punishment Will Be More Of A Moral Nature If Proven Guilty Jakarta, Kompas Online Several Golkar members and the party itself may have been involved in the Bank Bali scandal which signifies that the socalled "new" Golkar really does not differ from the old one. The case is a valuable lesson in politics for the public, even if legal punishment might not prevent the party from running in the next election of the year 2004. "golkar will most likely undergo a moral punishment. As a new party, Golkar appears not to differ much from the former party. It is still the same old party. It will affect the party in the future election, more so since there is a split in the party," LIPI observer, Syamsuddin Haris said Thursday (4/11) in Jakarta. According to Haris, the complete Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) report which revealed that funds amounting to Rp.15 billion had been channeled to the Winning Election Agency (Bappilu) of the party should be followed up with immediate action on Golkar by the General Election Commission (KPU). KPU has to urge the Supreme Court to deal out punishment to the party. General Chairman of Golkar, Akbar Tandjung, said that his party is ready for punishment if it has violated the laws of fund collecting in favor of election campaigns. However, Tandjung confessed that Golkar has not violated the rules about donation funds since these funds were donated legally. "We can prove that we have not violated the law," said Tandjung in the Assembly/parliament Building. Golkar, he said, has a list of donors. "It is with the treasurer, I don't know how much has exactly been returned," he said. Tandjung's responsibility Kausar Bailusy, a political observer of the Hasanuddin University in Makassar, drew attention to the fact that Golkar General Chairman, Akbar Tandjung, should resign from his post as Chairman of Parliament if it is proven that the party has been involved in the banking scandal. "Whether Akbar had been aware of the channeleing of these funds or not, or whether it has been done on the initiative of Golkar organisers, it is still his responsibility. Don't betray the public by saying that it had been the act of a few members and that action will be taken. Golkar's victory cannot be seperated from supporting funds which appears to be a vast sum of money," Bailusi stressed. He also approves of disqualification for the party if proof is forthcoming of its involvement in the banking scandal. "Members openly involved should be dealt with legal punishment and we really hope that government would take stern measures and does not waste time with this case." However Syamsuddin Haris reminded that punishment for Golkar cannot be easily given because of vague Party and Election Laws. The problem is that the election is over. Votes the party aquired cannot be canceled without canceling all of the election results. "If the whole election would have to be canceled, it would mean that PDI-Struggle's victory is marked for cancelation too," Haris said, adding that punishment to political parties for violation of laws is still marred by weak parts. Supreme Court Chairman avoids reply Chairman of the Supreme Court, Agung Sarwata, avoided comment on possible legal punishment for Golkar if the party really involved in the banking scandal and has received Rp.15 billion in campaign funds. According to Sarwata, the Supreme Court had only to set up a supervising committee at center level, the High Court had to set up a Controling Committee at first level, and the State Court a Controling Committee at secondary level. No objection Akbar Tandjung also said that he did not object Andi Mallarangeng's statement, one of the KPU members, who remarked that Golkar could be banned from the 2004 General Election if proof is found that the party illegally received Rp.15 billion in funds. "Andi keeps to the rules. We have not violated the rules. And because we haven't done that, we should not be punished, we can prove it. I am sure that I have told the treasurer to collect funds according to the rules," Tandjung said
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