Bawaslu representative Himun Zuhri delivering a statement at the examination hearing for the 2024 Merangin regent election dispute case No. 180/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on Thursday (1/23/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) — As the Relevant Party, Candidate Pair 2 M. Syukur–Abdul Khafidh refuted the argument made by Candidate Pair 1 Nalim – Nilwan Yahya (Petitioners) on the involvement of a Regency DPRD (Legislative Council) member Yuzan in the election. The Relevant Party delivered their statement at the examination hearing set to hear the Respondent’s response and statements of the Relevant Party and the Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) and to validate the evidence of the parties. The hearing was presided over by Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani on panel 2 on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

On behalf of the Relevant Party, legal counsel Amin Fahrudin denied the allegation of Yuzan’s involvement in the election in three districts—Renah Pembarap, Sungai Manau, and Pangkalan Jambu Districts. Referring to the status report issued by the Merangin Regency Bawaslu, the Relevant Party argued that the reported act did not qualify as an election crime.

“It was the Petitioners themselves who committed campaign violations by holding a parade on the Trans-Sumatra highway and it was reported to the Bawaslu, in which the Bawaslu declared the Petitioners had been proven of committing a violation,” Amin alleged.

A member of the Merangin Bawaslu Himun Zuhri also delivered a statement at the hearing. Bawaslu stated to have notified the Petitioners of their report on November 17, 2024, which in essence stated the report investigation was discontinued due to the act not satisfying the criteria of election crime.

Thus, the Relevant Party requested that the Court reject the Petitioners’ petition in its entirety and to affirm the validity of the Merangin KPU decree on the certification of the 2024 regent election results.

Also read: Candidates Allege Misuse of State Facilities in Merangin Regent Election

The legal counsel of the Merangin Elections Commission/KPU (Respondent) Saleh addressed the Petitioners’ allegation of civil state apparatus’ (ASN) partiality in the regent election. Saleh explained that the Respondent had not found any grounds to follow up or take actions in response to the indications of the breach of ASN neutrality.

Thus, the Respondent also requested that the Court reject the Petitioners’ petition in its entirety and affirm the validity of the Respondent’s decree on the certification of the 2024 regent election results.

Also read:

Petition for Case No. 180/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025

Statement by the Relevant Party

Response by the Respondent

Statement by Bawaslu

 

Author            : Ahmad Sulthon Zainawi
Editor             : N. Rosi
Translator      : 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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