Bawaslu’s Supervision Access to Campaign Funds is Restricted

The Election Supervisory Body (Badan Pengawas Pemilihan Umum or Bawaslu) is unable to fully supervise the submission of Campaign Fund Special Accounts (Rekening Khusus Dana Kampanye or RKDK) and Initial Campaign Fund Reports (Laporan Awal Dana Kampanye or LADK) from participants in the 2024 Elections. This limitation is because Bawaslu at all levels is restricted in accessing the reading of Campaign Fund Reports on the Campaign and Campaign Fund Information System (Sistem Informasi Kampanye dan Dana Kampanye or Sikadeka) by the General Election Commission (Komisi Pemilihan Umum or KPU).

“The KPU has provided access to read the campaign fund reports available on Sikadeka. However, until now, the reading of campaign fund reports cannot be done by Bawaslu at all levels, causing the supervisory tasks to be unable to be carried out to the fullest extent,” wrote Bawaslu in a press release on January 16th.

However, Article 109 of KPU Regulation Number 18 of 2023 on Election Campaign Funds states that Bawaslu can submit a request for access Sikadeka to the KPU. Yet, the access has not been obtained until now, even though Bawaslu has followed the specified procedures. On November 25, 2023, the KPU issued a letter with the number 1395/PL.01.7-SD/05/2023 regarding Approval of Access to Campaign Fund Reports for Regional Representative Council (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah or DPD) Candidates.

“In the letter, it is mentioned that there is information excluded from the campaign fund reports, requiring written approval from the candidates for the Regional Representative Council (DPD) so that information can be accessed by Bawaslu,” wrote Bawaslu.

According to Bawaslu, the approval document for access to campaign fund reports along with all information should also be information under the control of Bawaslu, because that document must be submitted to Bawaslu in writing by the DPD candidates. In accordance with Article 108 paragraph (1) of KPU Regulation Number 18 of 2023 on Election Campaign Funds, granting access to read data on campaign fund reports in Sikadeka does not limit Bawaslu if they want to request it directly.

“This is because the information in the campaign fund reports for Bawaslu is not exempted information,” wrote Bawaslu.

Moreover, according to Bawaslu, the Provincial KPU actually has an obligation to submit the approval document for access to campaign fund reports to Bawaslu and the candidates for the DPD members, while also keeping a hardcopy of the approval document for access to campaign fund reports. This is in accordance with the provisions in points (5) and (6) of letter number 1395/PL.01.7-SD/05/2023 regarding Approval of Access to Campaign Fund Reports for DPD Candidates.

Translated by Catherine Natalia