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Baron Harahap Saleh and La Samiru, attorney of the Southeast SulawesiKPU (Respondent) giving a response in the 2018 gubernatorial election results dispute hearing of Southeast Sulawesi Province, Tuesday (31/7) in the Courtroom of the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Ifa.

The Constitutional Court (MK) held the second hearing of the 2018 gubernatorial election results dispute of Southeast Sulawesi Province, Tuesday (31/7/2018). The session had been scheduled to listen to the response of the Respondent as well as the statements of the Relevant Party and Bawaslu/Panwaslu in the Plenary Courtroom of the Constitutional Court. The hearing of case No. 47/PHP.GUB-XVI/2018 was presided over by Chief Constitutional Justice Anwar Usman with Constitutional Justices I Dewa Gede Palguna and Wahiduddin Adams. 

Respondent the Southeast SulawesiKPU through attorneys Baron Harahap Saleh and La Samiru gave a response to the petition by Candidate Pair Number 3 Rusda Mahmud and LM. Sjafei Kahar. They denied having submitted the campaign finance report (LPPDK) of Candidate Pair Number 1 Ali Mazi and Lukman Abunawas late. They explained that Candidate Pair Number 1 had submitted it on July 24, 2018 at 17:38 WIT. The receipt had also been circulated by the Respondent through social and print media.

No Report

The Southeast Sulawesi Bawaslu/Panwaslu through Ahmad Syarifuddin said that the Petitioner\'s claim that 12 regents/mayors had supported Candidate Pair Number 1 was groundedless. "Since the determination of the governor and vice governor pair candidates contesting in the 2018 Southeast Sulawesi regional election, Bawaslu never received any report from the community of such a violation," he explained.

Appreciation of Efforts

The Court also heard the 2018 Sinjai Regency election results dispute petition by Candidate Pair Number 3 Takyuddin Masse and Mizar Roem. The Sinjai Regency KPU\'s (Respondent) attorney Marmuhah Majid said his client allowed Candidate Pair Number 2 (Relevant Party), who had been disqualified in the 2018 regional election, to contest in the voting and vote count on June 27, 2018 to appreciate their legal efforts. "If [their voting had been canceled at polling stations] and if the Panwas granted it, it would have been difficult to separate the votes. So the best step was taken without ignoring the rights of other candidate pairs," Marmuhah explained about the case No. 11/PHP.BUP-XVI/2018.

Votes for Relevant Party

The Relevant Party in case No. 11/PHP.BUP-XVI/2018 through Ahmad Marsuki stated that the Petitioner\'s request of the cancellation of the Sinjai Regency election results was unreasonable. According to him, the votes obtained by the Relevant Party, which were highest, reflected the people\'s choice as some voters still voted for the Petitioner. "Do not request a cancellation of the recapitulation results just because the Petitioner\'s votes are fewer, then. In fact, the Petitioner was also voted for by their supporters," Marsuki explained.

In the same session, the Constitutional Court also heard the 2018 gubernatorial election results dispute of Lampung Province in cases No. 41/PHP.GUB-XVI/2018 and 46/PHP.GUB-XVI/2018 petitioned by Candidate Pair Number 1 Muhammad Muhammad Ridho Ficardo-Bachtiar Basri and Candidate Pair Number 2 Herman Hasanusi-Sutono. (Sri Pujianti/LA)

Translated by: Yuniar Widiastuti

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