Jusuf Kalla rumored to have paid Rp10 trillion for vice-presidency

Petikan.com - May 19, 2014

Editorial staff – Senior Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) figure Sabam Sirait says that PDI-P vice presidential candidate Jusuf Kalla (JK) who will run alongside PDI-P presidential candidate Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in the 2014 presidential elections deposited 10 trillion rupiah (US$870 million) with PDI-P chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri.

"I heard that JK provided Rp10 trillion to pay for the pilpres [presidential election] if he became the cawapres [vice presidential candidate], I warned the PDI-P not to be tempted by financial enticements, because the PDI-P has a commitment to build politics without money politics, and I again warned them that the PDI-P was established not to be bought and sold", said Sirait.

According to Sirait, the determination of a political coalition and vice presidential candidate should not be because of money offered, but rather in consideration of the interests of the fate of the 260 million Indonesian people, 17 thousand islands and the future of the nation.

"For me there were only two choices for cawapres, [former Constitutional Court chief justice] Mahfud [MD] or [Corruption Eradication Commission chief] Abraham Samad. Both are clean and honest people who can be trusted to run alongside Jokowi", asserted Sirait.

"I've already discussed my plan to resign [from the PDI-P over the choice of Kalla] with other PDI-P founding members and friends at the Parkindo [now defunct Indonesian Christian Party}. I'll be looking for a chance to convey this to general chairperson [Megawati]", he said by way of conclusion.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://petikan.com/news/890-jadi-pendamping-jokowi-jk-setor-rp10-triliun-ke-mega-.