Legal counsel Fanly Katili (left) in the preliminary hearing for Case No. 11/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 in the panel 3 courtroom, Tuesday (1/14). Photo by MKRI/Bayu

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – Candidate Pair 01 Arsalan Makalalag-Hartina S. Badu alleged a fraudulent practice was committed by the civil servants and village apparatus in the South Bolaang Mongondow Regency election. They filed a petition to annul the South Bolaang Mongondow Regency KPU Decree No. 560 of 2024 concerning the certification of the 2024 South Bolaang Mongondow Regency election results, dated December 1, 2024.

The preliminary hearing for Case No. 11/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 was presided over by Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Anwar Usman and Enny Nurbaningsih on Panel 3 on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. The South Bolaang Mongondow election was contested by two candidate pairs with vote results that the Petitioners received 14,105 votes and Candidate Pair 02 Iskandar Kamaru-Deddy Abdul Hamid (Relevant Party) gained 33,356 votes.

The Petitioners argue that the vote difference was caused by the involvement of civil servants and village apparatus in securing the win for the incumbent (Relevant Party). Specifically, the Petitioners revealed that the Head of the Education Office of South Bolaang Mongondow was found distributing Rp50,000 to people who walked to the polling station, further implicating the mobilization of civil servants in the election process.

Additionally, the Petitioners pointed out that a school principal was found distributing books, uniforms, and bags featuring the pictures of Iskandar Kamaru-Deddy Abdul Hamid, the incumbent. These school supplies were given to elementary and junior high school students, accompanied by a message urging their parents to vote for candidate pair 02. 

“Books with the picture of the candidate pair, but it was written as regent because they are incumbent. This distribution was done on the silence day and prior,” said legal counsel Fanly Katitli in the Panel 3 courtroom.

Pressure from Village Apparatus

Regarding the village apparatus involvement, allegations were raised against the Head of Torosik Village in Pinolosian District for showing partiality by influencing voters to support candidate pair 02. Fanly noted that this behavior was permitted and went unchallenged by the KPPS (election organizers) at the polling station.

It also happened in Sinandika Village, Helumo District. The Village Apparatus reportedly entered the voting booth, exerting pressure on voters to support the Iskandar Kamaru-Deddy Abdul Hamid. Additionally, village apparatus from Dumagin Village, Pinolosian District was alleged to have permitted the Relevant Party's campaign team to engage in vote-buying practices.

Besides, the Petitioners alleged the KPPS organizers were involved in influencing voters, while the Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) overlooked the reported violations. It was also claimed that the village head intimidated voters to support candidate pair 02.

“People receive a lot of pressure, to the extent that they have no courage to protest in the polling station. Because it was previously coerced and it was carried out until the end of the voting,” said Fanly.

The Petitioners requested the Court to declare the South Bolaang Mongondow Regency KPU No. 560 of 2024 concerning the certification of the 2024 South Bolaang Mongondow Regency election results invalid and not legally binding and to annul the Decree.

Further, they also requested the Court to declare the certification of Iskandar Kamaru-Deddy Abdul Hamid as the candidate pair of the 2024 South Bolaang Mongondow Regency invalid and null. 

Or, the Court to order the South Bolaang Mongondow KPU to carry out a revote, particularly in Pinolosian District, Posigadan District, East Pinolosian District, Helumo District, and Central Pinolosian District no later than two months since the Court's decision was certified. Furthermore, certifying the results of the South Bolaang Mongondow Regency election with Arsalan Makalalag-Hartina S. Badu of 33,356 votes and Iskandar Kamaru-Deddy Abdul Hamid of 14,105 votes.

Author: Nawir Arsyad Akbar
Editor: Lulu Anjarsari P.
PR: Tiara Agustina
Translator: Syifa Amelia/Fuad Subhan (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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