Court Challenges Trisal Tahir’s Diploma in the Palopo Election Dispute

The Head of the Education Office of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, Wawan Sofwanudin, testifying during the evidentiary hearing for Case Number 168/PHPU.WAKO-XXIII/2025, concerning the 2024 General Election Results Dispute for the Mayor of Palopo City. The hearing took place in Courtroom Building II of the Constitutional Court on Monday, (2/17/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh.

JAKARTA (MKRI) – On Monday, February 17, 2025, the Constitutional Court (MK) held an evidentiary hearing for Case No. 168/PHPU.WAKO-XXIII/2025 on the 2024 Palopo mayoral election results dispute. The Court investigated further the DKI Jakarta Province Education Office and North Jakarta Region II Education Office officials who testified to the mayoral candidate 4 Trisal Tahir’s diploma.

“Today’s agenda is specifically ours, the [Court] justices, not with the Petitioners, Respondent, or Relevant Party,” stated Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra who chaired panel 2 with Constitutional Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani.

The Court compared the evidence submitted by Candidate Pair 2 Faris Kasim-Nurhaenih (Petitioners), Palopo KPU (Elections Commission) as Respondent, and Candidate Pair 4 Trisal Tahir-Akhmad Sarifuddin as Relevant Party. The Court also asked for confirmation and clarification from the testifiers.

Head of Preschool Education, Community Education, and Special Education of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Education Office, Wawan Sofwanudin, explained that the C Package Equivalency Education diploma was issued by the local Region Education Office, not by each Community Learning Activity Center (PKBM). He also said that the diplomas were written by a party or team appointed by the Region Education Office, not the educational unit.

“[The diploma] was written by a team formed by the Region Education Office, not the school. It’s true [school is not allowed to issue the diploma],” stated Wawan.

The North Jakarta Region II Education Office, Heni Nurhayani, revealed that there were 50 participants in the C Package Equivalency Education test from PKBM Yusha in 2016. Not all of them passed the test, but she showed that Trisal Tahir was not listed.

“Is there any name Trisal here [test attendance list from PKBM Yusha]?” questioned Deputy Chief Justice Saldi. “No, Your Honor,” asserted Heni.

Besides, the Principal of PKBM Yusha, Bonar Johnson, acknowledged that he was unsure about the discrepancies between the writing on the diplomas presented as evidence by the Relevant Party and the ones submitted by the North Jakarta Region Education Office. Yet, in the previous hearing, he had confirmed that Trisal Tahir was a student at PKBM Yusha. "I’m not entirely sure about that particular year, Your Honor" Bonar stated.

Candidate Pair 2, Farid Kasim and Nurhaenih, raised concerns regarding the validity and authenticity of the diploma submitted by mayoral candidate 04, Trisal Tahir. The Respondent stated that Trisal Tahir was deemed ineligible (TMS) based on the verification results, which revealed discrepancies between the submitted diploma form and the official diploma form issued by PKBM Yusha for the 2015/2016 academic year.

However, as clarified by the Respondent to the North Jakarta Region Education Office, a review of the digital archive of PKBM Yusha's 2015/2016 diplomas found no record of Trisal Tahir. Consequently, Trisal Tahir's diploma was not registered with the North Jakarta City Region II Education Office. As a result, in September 2024, the Palopo KPU issued a minute, stating that the required documents for the mayoral candidate were deemed ineligible.

However, Trisal Tahir’s legal counsel filed a dispute claim on the KPU’s decision, which stated that candidate pair 04 did not meet administrative requirements. Consequently, Palopo Bawaslu (Election Supervisory Body) issued a decree that resulted in an agreement for the Palopo KPU to conduct a re-clarification of Trisal Tahir's C Package diploma.

The Palopo KPU and Bawaslu sought clarification from the principal of PKBM Yusha through an online platform. The principal confirmed Trisal Tahir’s enrollment in the 2015/2016 academic year but acknowledged the absence of official records to support his statement. However, he expressed willingness to take legal responsibility for his claim.

The Respondent questioned to clarify with the Democratic and Gerindra parties who have supported candidate pair 4. Trisal Tahir further issued and signed a statement letter that in essence, his C Package diploma was true and issued by the authorized officials, and was prepared to be legally accountable.

Besides, the Respondent accepted two statement letters and one clarification letter from PKBM Yusha that in essence, Trisal Tahir was registered at PKBM Yusha. Therefore, in the plenary meeting, the Respondent changed prospective mayoral candidate Trisal Tahir from ineligible (TMS) to eligible (MS).

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Court Challenges Trisal Tahir’s Diploma in the Palopo Election Dispute