Bawaslu’s representative Johani testifying at the regent election results dispute hearing for Case No. 57/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 before Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra and Constitutional Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani on panel 2, Monday (1/20/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – The Melawi Elections Commission or KPU (Respondent), represented by legal counsel Hifdzil Alim, stated that they had not received any recommendation from the Melawi Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Body) regarding allegations of ASN’s (state civil apparatus) partiality. This statement was made at the examination hearing for Case No. 57/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on Monday, January 20, 2025 in the Constitutional Court (MK).

The hearing was presided over by Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani on panel 2. It was intended to hear testimonies from the Respondent, the Relevant Party, and Bawaslu, as well as to validate evidence from all parties involved.

Hifdzil explained that the alleged partiality of ASN in the regent election falls under the authority of the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) before the candidate pairs are officially determined, and it becomes the responsibility of Bawaslu once the candidate pairs have been officially designated. He further emphasized that this procedure is regulated by the Joint Decree of the Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, Minister of Home Affairs, head of BKN, head of the Civil Service Commission (KASN), and Bawaslu chairperson.

The Petitioners argued that ASN, village heads, village apparatus, Village Consultative Body, and even the KPU and Bawaslu had shown partiality toward a certain candidate pair. The absence of a report to Bawaslu, marked by the lack of recommendation to the KPU, led the Respondent to assert that the Petitioners seemed to suggest that the implementation of the 2024 regent election in Melawi was riddled with structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) violations. However, according to the Respondent, this was not the case, as the election had been carried out in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.

Based on the above arguments, the Respondent requested the Court to reject the Petitioners’ petition in its entirety and to affirm the validity of the Respondent’s decree on the certification of the 2024 Melawi regent election results.

The Relevant Party, represented by legal counsel Glorio Sanen, argued that the petition was based on assumptions and lacked valid evidence, particularly concerning ASN’s partiality. The Relevant Party contended that the Petitioners’ claim of TSM violations, was grounded on the fact that the Relevant Party was the incumbent regent, while one of the Petitioners was the incumbent vice regent.

“[One of] the Petitioners, in this case the regent candidate, is the vice regent of Melawi, so he has the authority, programs, and activities in the administration of Melawi Regency, which is a unity along with the regent,” said Glorio.

In addition, the Relevant Party denied the Petitioners’ claim that the Relevant Party was supported by his younger sibling, who is the chairperson of the Melawi Regency Legislative Council (DPRD). The Relevant Party clarified that Handegi Januardi was only inaugurated as chairperson of the Melawi Regency DPRD on October 25, 2024, after the election stages had already commenced.

“The Petitioners did not explain the pattern or procedure of the support by Handegi, so the accusation must be set aside,” said Glorio.

Based on the above arguments, the Relevant Party requested the Court to reject the Petitioners’ petition in its entirety and to affirm the validity of the Respondent’s decree on the certification of the 2024 Melawi regent election results.

Furthermore, the Melawi Bawaslu, represented by Johani, stated that there had been no reports or findings of violations or requests for disputes in the election process regarding the Petitioners’ petition concerning TSM violations, including the argument about the partiality of government apparatus.

Also read: Kluisen-Lif Demand Revote Against Empty Column in Melawi Regent Election Dispute

Also read: Petition for Case No. 57/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025

Author         : Ahmad Sulthon Zainawi
Editor          : N. Rosi
Translator    : Nazila Rikhusshuba/Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

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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