The preliminary hearing of the legislative election results dispute (PHPU) case of North Maluku I Electoral District (Dapil) on Tuesday (9/7) in the Panel 3 Courtroom of the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Teguh.

JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—The Constitutional Court held the 2019  legislative election results dispute (PHPU) on Tuesday (9/7/2019). At the hearing, the Panel of Judges examined two cases related to the Regional Representative Council (DPD) for North Maluku Province. Both petitions request an election vote in all areas of North Maluku Province.

The Petitioner of petition No. 01-32/PHPU-DPD/XVII/2019, Tjatur Sapto Edy, a former politician of the National Mandate Party (PAN) claimed 42,863 votes but the Respondent declared the Petitioner’s vote acquisition amounting only to 32,315 votes. The Petitioner alleged vote inflation had caused him to not be elected as a member of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

"It occurred in North Halmahera Regency, West Halmahera, Central Halmahera, and Morotai Islands Regency," explained the Petitioner\'s attorney, Syamsir. For example, he said, his client received 12,170 votes in North Halmahera Regency but the Respondent only declared 1,651 votes.

“[Therefore], we request that the Constitutional Court declare the Petitioner\'s vote acquisition be 42,863 votes. We also request that the Constitutional Court order the General Elections Commission (KPU) to hold a recount in North Halmahera Regency, West Halmahera Regency, Central Halmahera Regency, and Morotai Islands Regency," explained Syamsir. Moreover, he requested that the Court declare Tjatur Sapto Edy a DPD member for the period of 2019–2024.

DPD candidate Ikbal Djabid also participated in this hearing. He questioned ineligible voters who cast a vote at the polling stations (TPS). He also claimed there had been destruction and removal of ballots by the Polling Station Working Committee (KPPS). This was evidenced by discrepancy between the number of ballots and the number of turnout voters.

"It occurred in Ternate Municipality, South Halmahera Regency, Central Halmahera Regency, North Halmahera Regency," explained the Petitioner\'s attorney Aries Surya on Case No 02-32/PHPU-DPD/XVII/2019.

Therefore, said Aries, his camp requested for a recount in Ternate Municipality, South Halmahera Regency, Central Halmahera Regency, and North Halmahera Regency. In the hearing, the panel of justices also examined cases No. 18-01-32/PHPU.DPR-DPRD/XVII/2019 for the National Awakening Party (PKB), No. 142-20-32/PHPU.DPR-DPRD/XVII/2019 for the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI), and No. 201-05-32/PHPU.DPR-DPRD/XVII/2019 for the National Democratic Party (Nasdem). The next hearing will be held on Monday, July 15, 2019. (Arif Satriantoro/LA/RD)

Translated by: FS/YW