Wakatobi Elections Commission Denies Mobilization of Civil State Apparatus

Irfan Sakti from KPU (Respondent) and legal counsel M. Suhandri delivering the response at the examination hearing for the 2024 Wakatobi regent election case No. 61/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 to hear the Respondent, the Relevant Party, and Bawaslu, Friday (1/24/2025). Photo by MKRI/Ifa

JAKARTA (MKRI) — The Constitutional Court (MK) held an examination hearing for the 2024 Wakatobi regent election results dispute Case No. 61/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on Friday, January 24, 2025. The hearing to hear the response from the Respondent and the statements from the Relevant Party and Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) was presided over by Chief Justice Suhartoyo (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh and Guntur M. Hamzah on panel 1.

On behalf of the Wakatobi Elections Commission/KPU (Respondent), legal counsel Suhandri refuted the intimidation and mobilization of state civil apparatus (ASN) in supporting Candidate Pair 2 Haliana–Safia Wualo as accused by the Petitioners. While the item of accusation didn't fall under their authority, the Respondent delivered a response in relation to their responsibilities. The Respondent stated that they have never received any recommendation from the Wakatobi Bawaslu, the authorized body in handling cases such as official rotation violations in the election period.

Another argument raised by the Petitioners was that the firefighter volunteers in Oru Village, Togo Binongko District campaigned for Candidate Pair 2 (Relevant Party). The Respondent rejected the allegation and stated that there wasn't any village named Oru in all of Wakatobi Regency. Substantially, the Petitioners' arguments had no relation to the Respondent.

"What is more, the Petitioners did not elaborate whether the incident significantly impacted on the vote acquisition," Suhandri explained.

No Staple Food Distribution As Alleged

Meanwhile, the Relevant Party through their legal counsel denied abusing the distribution of staple food or social assistance allocated in the regional budget. "The Relevant Party had never attended the activity on September 18, 2024 in Sombu Village, Wangi-Wangi District since the Relevant Party was in Jakarta at that date," Bosman argued.

On behalf of the Wakatobi Bawaslu, Asyary Suyanto revealed that they had received 36 reports (18 of which were escalated to BKN), 3 findings, as well as issued recommendations on ethics violation by 3 polling station officers (PPS), 1 district election committee officer and 1 recommendation to the Regent on violation by a village head. "All of the reports have been followed up by the parties recommended to resolve the issues in question," stated Asyary.

Also read: Wakatobi Incumbent Regent Allegedly Abused Authority

At the preliminary hearing on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, Candidate Pair 1 Hamiruddin and Muhammad Ali (Petitioners) strongly alleged Hailana, Regent Candidate 2 (incumbent) of abusing his authority as regent for the 2021–2026 term and misappropriating programs and activities for his own benefits in the 2024 election. The Petitioners argued that since his candidacy announcement on September 18, 2024, Haliana had begun conducting programs such as distributions of staple food to the people of Sombu Village, Wangi-Wangi District and social aid in Togo Bonongko District. This was in clear violation of Article 71 paragraph (3) of Law No. 1 of 2015, which prohibits regents or vice regents from taking advantage of their authority from six months before the candidate nomination until election.

The Petitioners believe that Haliana had appointed the regency-wide firefighting volunteers and remunerated them using the Wakatobi local budget. In addition, on August 13, 2024, during the election period, as regent, Haliana signed off 190 housing grant documents, which awarded Rp10 million in repair funds to 190 houses. Moreover, they claimed that on September 11, 2024, the regent issued statement letters that assigned or rotated a number of state civil apparatus (ASN), one of which was Statement Letter No. 615.A of 2024 on the rotation and appointment of civil servants (PNS) in Wakatobi Regency Government.

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Wakatobi Elections Commission Denies Mobilization of Civil State Apparatus