JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – The Deputy Chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Bambang Widjojanto said that KPK will closely monitor the implementation of regional elections across the country this year.

Bambang told the press on Thursday (Jan. 8) that KPK anticipates the practices of money politics likely to still dominate the elections.

“Should indirect regional elections be implemented concurrently, there’ll be a massive capitalization of money,” said Bambang.

“The most horrible thing is if the regional election would be implemented indirectly while tension between two warring coalitions extends, graft practices will be unbelievable,” Bambang added.

As reported earlier, 204 regional elections are scheduled to be held concurrently in 2015 in 8 provinces, 170 regencies, and 26 municipalities across the country.

However, it is still uncertain whether the regional elections will use direct or indirect system. The House of Representatives (DPR) this month will take a decision on whether or not they will passage the government regulation in lieu of law No. 1/2014 into law (or the Perpu direct regional election). (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)