BNN Should Test Election Candidates, Regional Leaders for Drugs: Lawmaker
Jakarta. A lawmaker has suggested that the National Narcotics Agency, or BNN, should be involved in the screening of election candidates after a district head in South Sumatra was arrested for possession and consumption of methamphetamine less than a month after he was sworn in.
Ogan Ilir district head Ahmad Mawardi was among 18 people arrested after anti-drug officers conducted a raid on a home in South Sumatra's capital Palembang on Sunday evening (13/03).
Ahmad, 28, was sworn in as district chief on Feb. 17.
“This case should serve as an important evaluation note. The solution is to tighten the [candidate] screening process. If need be, we should involve the BNN to screen candidates,” said Ahmad Riza Patria, deputy chairman of the House Commission II, which oversees politics and home affairs.
The Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) lawmaker said BNN's involvement must be included in the Law on Regional Elections “to stop regional leaders from getting involved with drugs.”
He added that the current Law on Regional Administration must be revised to include harsher punishments for governors, district heads and mayors involved in drug-related offenses. He also suggested periodic drug tests.
“We want [regional leaders] to be tested for drugs once a year. As a leader they must become role models,” he said.
General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Husni Kamil Manik defended the KPU's drug tests, saying they “are performed well” and conducted by “competent people.”
Tags: Keywords: