Jakarta. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) stands resolute against the legalization of money politics, reaffirming its stance amidst a controversial proposal by a member of the House of Representatives.

Ali Fikri, spokesperson for the KPK, vehemently rejected the idea, emphasizing the detrimental impact of such a move on democracy. Fikri's remarks came in response to a suggestion from Hugua, a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faction, advocating for the legalization of money politics with specific restrictions.

Fikri underscored the essence of ongoing campaigns against money politics, stressing its negative effect on democratic principles. "Money politics has become a 'disease,' corroding the foundation of our democracy," said Fikri on Thursday.

The KPK further warned against the legalization of money politics, highlighting the absence of moral justification and its potential to perpetuate corruption within governance structures. "Electing officials through money politics breeds a culture where elected representatives seek to recoup their investments, often resorting to corrupt practices during their tenures," added Fikri.

In contrast, Hugua defended the proposal, arguing that money politics has become deeply entrenched in society. He proposed its legalization with prescribed limitations, dubbed as "political costs," particularly for the 2024 Regional Elections.

However, the Democratic Party swiftly opposed the notion, citing concerns over its adverse implications for democratic integrity.

Dede Yusuf, a Democratic Party politician, rejected the proposal, advocating instead for systemic reforms to curtail the prevalence of money politics. Yusuf emphasized the importance of fostering informed voter choices based on candidates' merits rather than financial inducements.

"If it is legalized, people will compete to amass money by any means possible, and the consequence of that is that elected representatives will focus on recouping their investments. That is not good. Instead, what we should do is improve the existing system so that the focus is not on big-money politics," he concluded.