Rr. Susanti Komalasari, the Respondent’s legal counsel at the examination hearing on the West Bandung regent election results dispute, Friday (1/17/2025). Photo by MKRI/Ifa.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) — The West Bandung Regency Elections Commission/KPU (Respondent) stated that they were not aware of any reports on the partiality of state civil apparatus (ASN) toward Candidate Pair 2 Jeje Ritchie–Asep Ismail. They claimed that there had been no notice from either Candidate Pair 3 Hengki Kurniawan and Ade Sudrajat Usman (Petitioners) or the West Bandung Regency Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu).

The West Bandung KPU responded through their legal counsel Gatot Rusbal at the second hearing on the 2024 West Bandung regent election results dispute for Case No. 192/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 in the Constitutional Court (MK) on Friday, January  17, 2025. The examination hearing to hear the responses from the Respondent, the Relevant Party, and Bawaslu was presided over by Chief Justice Suhartoyo (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh and M. Guntur Hamzah on panel 1.

Furthermore, Gatot noted that under the provisions of Article 53 of KPU Regulation No. 13 of 2024 on the campaign of gubernatorial, regent, and mayoral elections, in the event of such violation, the Petitioners should file a report to the West Bandung Bawaslu.

“Therefore, the endorsements argued [by the Petitioners] were not made aware to the Respondent and the Petitioners did not report to the Bawaslu. The vote buying issue argued to be structured, systematic, and massive [violation] was also not known by the Respondent due to the lack of recommendation from the West Bandung Bawaslu.” Gatot asserted.

State Official Visit

On behalf of the Relevant Party, legal counsel Rr. Susanti Komalasari refuted the arguments about the endorsement from the Minister of Villages and Disadvantaged Regions Yandri Susanto and the special envoy for the Development of the Youth and Art Workers Raffi Ahmad.

“The two government officials’ visit was a state official visit, hence not related to the Relevant Party. The visit had been officially scheduled and the entirety of the visit program was not related to the campaign schedule of the Relevant Party,” Susanti explained.

Bawaslu Testifies on Money Politics

Delivering the West Bandung Bawaslu’s supervisory report, Riza Nasrul talked about the indications of money politics in Cipongkor District. Bawaslu stated to have received a violation complaint from the Village Community Government Office (DPMD) of West Bandung and issued a recommendation calling for the neutrality of village heads and officials.

“As for Cipongkor, the violation indication [was responded by] issuing a notice to the village elements in DPMD to maintain neutrality in the 2024 regional election,” Riza testified.

Also read: Hengki-Ade Reveal Minister Endorsement in West Bandung Regent Election

At the preliminary hearing on January 8, 2025, the Petitioners had requested the Court to annul the West Bandung KPU Decree No. 272 of 2024 on the certification of the 2024 West Bandung regent election results issued on Thursday, December 5, 2024. The Petitioners argued the involvement of state apparatus in the campaign of Candidate Pair 2 Jeje Ritchie and Asep Ismail, including the Minister of Villages and Disadvantaged Regions Yandri Susanto and the special envoy for the Development of the Youth and Art Workers Raffi Ahmad. They were alleged to have misused their positions to endorse the candidate pair during their visit to Cikahuripan Village, Lembang District.

Furthermore, the Petitioners also argued there had been structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) violations in the form of money politics. These involved the village heads, Village Community Empowerment Institution (LPMD), neighborhood units (RT), community units (RW), family welfare movements (PKK), community clinic (posyandu), and the campaign team, ultimately leading to a landslide win for Jeje-Asep. These violations allegedly took place in eleven districts in West Bandung Regency, including Cikalongwetan, Parongpong, Cipongkor, Rongga, Padalarang, Gunung Halu, Ngamprah, and Cipeundeuy.

Read more:

Case No. 192/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025

Response of West Bandung KPU (Respondent)

Testimony of Bawaslu

Testimony of Relevant Party

Author            : Sri Pujianti
Editor            : N. Rosi
Translators     : M. Hafidh Al Mukmin/Yuniar Widiastuti (NL) (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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