Budi Santoso testifying on behalf of Bawaslu of West Bangka Regency at the hearing of the Petition with Case No. 99/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025, Monday (1/20/2025). Photo by MKRI/Ifa.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) — At first, the West Bangka Regency Elections Commission (KPU) had proposed 500 polling stations (TPS) to the West Bangka Regency Government. However, after updating data until the certification of the permanent voters list (DPT), it turned out that only 341 were needed. Therefore, the proposal was changed, and the Petitioners accused the West Bangka Regency KPU of reducing the number of polls for the West Bangka Regency election.

The statement was made by M. Jaka Zia Utama, the West Bangka Regency KPU’s (Respondent) legal counsel, at the second hearing for Case Number 99/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 to hear the Respondent’s answer and the statements of the Relevant Parties, and Bawaslu, presided over by Chief Justice Suhartoyo (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh and M. Guntur Hamzah on panel 1 courtroom.

Jaka conveyed the answer to the petition by Candidate Number 01 Sukirman and Bong Ming Ming (Petitioners). “Initially, there were no reference regarding the minimum and maximum polling stations, so [the KPU] still referred to the procurement of polling stations during the legislative election with a total of 400 polling stations. After that, a KPU Regulation was issued, that the limit of the number of voters is 600 voters at 1 polling station. And on this occasion, the voter turnout reached 65%, including in Bangka Island, where it is the highest,” he explained.

Number of Polls and Voter Turnout

Legal counsel of Candidate Number 02 Markus-Yus Derahman (Relevant Party) Triwiyono Susilo explained that there was no evidence that the reduced number of polling stations in the election waas causing the lower voter turnout.

“So, the argument that the reduction of polling stations by the election organizers have reduced voter turnout is incorrect, erroneous, and far-fetched. Therefore, the Petitioners’ argument must be ruled out,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Budi Santoso said on behalf of the West Bangka Regency Bawaslu that of the reports, complaints, and findings lodged to Bawaslu, there were no recommendations regarding the Petitioners’ arguments. “So, [there were] no reports on the incident at Mentok polling station and 14 polling stations that were said to be problematic. Similarly, on the reduction in the number of polling stations, there is no report to Bawaslu,” said Budi.

Also read: Sukirman-Bong Ming Ming Allege Vote Buying in West Bangka Regent Election

At the preliminary hearing on Thursday, January 9, 2025, the Petitioners requested the cancellation of the KPU Decree No. 583 of 2024 on the certification of the 2024 West Bangka regent election results. The Petitioners certified the following results: Candidate Pair Number 01 Sukiman-Bong Ming Ming received 35,446 votes, Candidate Pair Number 02 Markus-Yus Derahman secured 36,872 votes, and Candidate Pair Number 03 Mansah-Dwi Aryani received 23,980 votes.

According to the Petitioners, vote buying had secured the victory of Candidate Pair Number 02 in six sub-districts as follows: Muntok, Simpang Teritip, Jebus, Kelapa, Tempilang, and Parittiga. They also accused Candidate Pair Number 2, including the DPR (House of Representatives) member Rudianto Tjen from PDI-P (Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle), of misusing state facilities and budget to commit money politics in Parittiga District. This action, Ridwan continued, violated Article 57 paragraph (1) letter h and Article 60 paragraph (1) of KPU Regulation Number 13 of 2024 concerning the regional head election campaign regulation.

Furthermore, the number of polling stations (TPS) in the West Bangka 2024 regional election was reduced compared to the 2020 regional election, which consists of six districts. In 2020, 400 polling stations served a total of 134,414 voters. However, in 2024, the number was reduced to only 341 polling stations with 151,000 voters. The Petitioners requested the Court to order the West Bangka KPU to conduct a revote at all polling stations in Muntok District, as well as at TPS 03 in Sungai Bulu Village, TPS 01 in Bulit Terak Village, TPS 05 in Air Lintang Village, TPS 03 in Tempilang Village, TPS 03 in Pangek Village, TPS 02 in Tebing Village, and TPS 01 in Rukam Village.

Also read the petition for case No. 99/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025.

Author              : Sri Pujianti
Editor                : N. Rosi
Translator         : Dinita Aktivia/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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