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Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | 18:43 WIB

Virtual preliminary hearing of case No. 138/PHP.BUP-XIX/2021 on the 2020 Rokan Hulu regent election results dispute at the Constitutional Court, Wednesday (19/05/2021). Photo by Humas MK/Ilham.

JAKARTA, Public Relations—Candidate Pair No. 1 of the 2020 Rokan Hulu regent election Hamulian S.P.-M. Sahril Topan filed an election results dispute petition to the Constitutional Court (MK). In the case No. 138/PHP.BUP-XIX/2021, they requested that the Court annul the regency’s General Elections Commission (KPU) Decree No. 49/PL.02.6-Kpt/1406/KPU-Kab/lV/2021 dated April 24, 2021 concerning the Certification of the Revote Recapitulation Post-Constitutional Court Decision No. 70/PHP.BUP-XIX/2021 in the 2021 Rokan Hulu Regent-Vice Regent Election on April 24, 2021.

Before presiding Constitutional Justices Enny Nurbaningsih (panel chair), Wahiduddin Adams, and Suhatoyo, the Petitioner’s attorney Asep Ruhiyat alleged structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) violations by Candidate Pair No. 2 Sukiman-Indra Gunawan during the revote at almost all of the 25 polling stations (TPS) in North Tambusai Village, North Tambusai Subdistrict.

Asep alleged that PT Torganda had been directed as a location for revote, which was corroborated by a testimony of Heri Ismanto, who alleged that the revote at the 25 TPSs were observed by the company’s official or manager as a witness for Candidate Pair No. 2. Asep also revealed that the company’s manager had sent a letter to instruct the local community to bring their KTP (resident ID card) and KK (family card) and to ban all employees from leaving the plantation’s premises.

“This is obviously [an attempt by] PT Torganda to limit the mobility, interaction, and to intimidate and direct voters at the company. This violation was reported to the Rokan Hulu Regency Bawaslu [(Elections Supervisory Body)],” Asep explained at the preliminary hearing on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 in the panel courtroom.

The Petitioner also alleged that Candidate Pair No. 3 Hafith Syukri-Erizal had committed “money politics” or vote buying on the local community who voted at the 25 TPSs. The Petitioner requested that the Court annul the KPU decision and disqualify Candidate Pairs No. 2 and 3 or at least order the regency’s KPU to hold another revote at all TPSs throughout the regency.

On March 22, 2021, the Court had granted part of the petition by Candidate Pair No. 3 Hafith Syukri-Eriza (Decision No. 70/PHP.BUP-XIX/2021) regarding the Rokan Hulu regent election. It ordered that the regency’s KPU conduct a revote at 25 TPSs in the premises of PT Torganda: TPS 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34 of North Tambusai Village, North Tambusai Subdistrict.

Before concluding the hearing, Constitutional Justice Enny Nurbaningsih stated that the hearing would resume on Friday, May 21, 2021 at 10:00 WIB to hear the Respondent’s response and the statements of the Relevant Party and Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Body), and to approve evidence.

Also read:  

Court Examines Dispute Cases of Rokan Hulu, Rokan Hilir, Kuantan Singingi Elections

Voters Mobilization Proven, Constitutional Court Decides Election Redo for Rokan Hulu Regent

Writer        : Sri Pujianti
Editor        : Lulu Anjarsari P.
PR            : M. Halim
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 5/20/2021 14:16 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian version, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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