Bawaslu Issues Recommendations on Alleged ASN Partiality to BKN

Principal Respondent Erik Ridwal Syukur testifying at the examination hearing for Case No. 106/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025, Thursday (1/23/2025). Photo by MKRI/Ifa.

JAKARTA (MKRI) - Central Maluku Bawaslu (Election Supervisory Body) has addressed a report on alleged election violations involving the acting principal of Trana Christian Middle School in Teon Nila Serua District. The alleged violation concerns ASN (state civil apparatus) neutrality during the 2024 Central Maluku regent election. After conducting an investigation, Bawaslu has recommended further action to the BKN (State Civil Service Agency) Regional IV Makassar through the SBT (Integrated Sharing System) application.

This statement was delivered by La Ami Suri, who represented the Central Maluku Bawaslu, at the examination hearing of the 2024 Central Maluku regent election results dispute on Thursday, January 23, 2025. The hearing was held to hear testimonies of the Respondent, the Relevant Party, and Bawaslu, and presided over by Chief Justice Suhartoyo (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh and M. Guntur Hamzah on panel 1 in one of the courtrooms.

"Regarding the Petitioners’ petition, there is one recommendation that was followed up to the State Civil Service Agency (BKN) Regional IV Makassar through the Makassar SBT application. However, there has been no follow-up until today (during the hearing). And in the implementation of the election, Bawaslu received 21 reports, which in principle did not meet the material requirements for reporting," said La Ami Suri in response to the petition filed by Central Maluku regent-vice regent candidates 02 Ibrahim Ruhunussa and Liliane Aitonam (Petitioners).

Rebuttal of Arguments

The Petition for Case No. 106/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 was also responded to by Candidate Pair 04 Zulkarnain Awat–Mario Lawalata (Relevant Party). Through their legal counsel Fadli Nasution, the Relevant Party denied and stated that the Petitioners’ argument regarding the involvement of the acting regent of Central Maluku Rakib Sahubawa was untrue. "In fact, the Relevant Party never formed the Malteng Bangkit volunteers with the acting regent as the advisor. There was only the Zulkarnain Awat–Mario Lawalata campaign team," said Fadli.

Furthermore, Fadli also denied the allegation of the principal's involvement in supporting one of the candidates. He clarified that the acting head of the Central Maluku Education Office never issued such an order to the person involved, which was further confirmed by a signed statement. Additionally, the Relevant Party also rejected the allegation of the involvement of the Head of the Central Maluku Youth and Sports Office in supporting one of the candidate pairs.

"In fact, the group photo took place after the determination of the regional election results, where the individual in question gave his congratulations," explained Fadli.

Furthermore, the Relevant Party also denied several other arguments, such as the involvement of the head of the health service, the change of district heads, and fraud that allegedly occurred in 29 polling stations. "Regarding the fraud in the 29 polling stations, after we collected the C-results, there was evidence that all witnesses of the candidate pairs signed, no special incidents, and all parties acknowledged the election results," explained Fadli.

Ineffective Polling Stations

The Central Maluku KPU (Election Commission), through its legal counsel Ali Nurdin, addressed the Petitioners’ argument on the cancellation of Decree No. 43 of 2024 and the requested adjustment of the vote count. Nurdin clarified that the cancellation rendered all 694 polling stations in the Central Maluku region invalid and without effect.

"If a revote is conducted at 29 polling stations, what about other polling stations whose votes have been annulled?" Nurdin questioned.

Also read: Acting Regent of Central Maluku Accused of Involvement in Winning Regent Election Candidate

At the preliminary examination hearing on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the Petitioners requested the annulment of the Central Maluku KPU Decree No. 43 of 2024, on the certification of the 2024 Central Maluku regent election results dispute. According to the Respondent's vote count, Candidate Pair 01 Mirati Dewaningsih–Dani Nirahua secured 30,360 votes; Candidate Pair 02 (Petitioners) obtained 50,149 votes; Candidate Pair 03 Andi Munaswir–Tina Tetelepta garnered 54,192 votes; and Candidate Pair 04 Zulkarnain Awat–Mario Lawalata received 57,988 votes, resulting in a total of 192,689 valid votes.

The Petitioners claimed that the vote disparity was due to the active involvement of the acting regent of Central Maluku Rakib Sahubawa in supporting and campaigning for Candidate Pair 04. According to the Petitioners, this plan was initiated with the formation of the Malteng Bangkit volunteer team in May 2024, with Rakib Sahubawa serving as an advisory board member. Such actions by ASN were alleged to violate Article 70, paragraph (1), letters b and c of Law No. 16 of 2010. Furthermore, Rakib Sahubawa reportedly reassigned six district heads and two district secretaries on October 28, 2024, precisely 30 days before the election. Based on these allegations, the Petitioners requested the Court to order the Central Maluku KPU to conduct a re-vote at 29 polling stations across 10 villages and 3 districts within the regency, encompassing a total of 423 registered voters.

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Bawaslu Issues Recommendations on Alleged ASN Partiality to BKN