Legal counsel Meidi Noldi Kurama testifying at the preliminary hearing for case No. 58/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 before Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra and Constitutional Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani on panel 2, Friday (1/10/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – Candidate Pair 01 Bahrain Kasuba-Umar Hi. Soleman (Bahrain-Umar) argued that Candidate Pair 03 Hasan Ali Basam-Helmi Umar (Ali-Umar) have mobilized elementary and high school principals in the 2024 South Halmahera Regency election. It was revealed at the preliminary hearing for case No. 58/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 concerning the 2024 South Halmahera Regency election results dispute on Friday, January 10, 2025 in the Panel 2 courtroom.

At the preliminary hearing chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra, legal counsel Meidi Noldi Kurama argued that elementary and high school principals’ mobilization in the 2024 South Halmahera Regency election is a form of structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) violation. This fraudulent practice does not align with the principle of the people’s sovereignty.

“The votes obtained by the winner certified by the Respondent (KPU) are not a genuine reflection of the people’s sovereignty, but are due to pressure from feelings of extraordinary fear,” said Meidi when reading the petition.

Further, Meidi stated that this principals’ mobilization to secure the win for Ali-Umar was committed in five districts across South Halmahera Regency: Obi, South Obi, East Obi, Central East Gane, and North West Gane. Obi District became the center of a meeting between Ali-Umar and the elementary and junior high school principals in South Halmahera Regency.

Ali-Umar’s position as incumbents was the driving force of this mobilization. It means they can give structured instruction to school principals, who were then mobilized systematically and massively to secure the election win for them.

“Ahead of the voting, there was a friendly visit between the incumbent regent or Candidate Pair 03 on Obi Island specifically to provide instructions,” said Meidi. 

He added that people in South Halmahera aspire to have the Petitioners be their regent. It was because the Petitioners was successful in creating a safe and peaceful environment when they became the regent and chairperson of DPRD (Regional Legislative Council) in South Halmahera. It proves the Petitioners’ competency in leading South Halmahera to be a safe and peaceful regency.

“People in South Halmahera continue to long for the Petitioners to serve as South Halmahera regent-vice regent,” explained Meidi.

Therefore, Meidi requested the Court to order the South Halmahera KPU (Elections Commission) to conduct a revote in South Halmahera Regency.

Author         : Ahmad Sulthon Zainawi
Editor           : N. Rosi
Translators   : Syifa Amelia/Yuniar Widiastuti (RA)

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

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