Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra, accompanied by Constitutional Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani, leading the preliminary hearing on Case Number 316/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 regarding the 2024 Regent Election Results Disputes of Banggai Regency in the plenary courtroom on Friday (4/24/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh.
JAKARTA, (MKRI) – Candidate Pair Number 3 for Regent and Vice Regent of Banggai Regency, Sulianti Murad and Samsul Bahri Mang, has submitted a petition for the Dispute over the General Election Results (PHPU) of the 2024 Banggai Regent Election. This follows the re-voting (PSU) held at all polling stations in Toili and Simpang Raya Districts. The petitioners allege that the incumbent regent and Candidate Pair Number 1, Amirudin and Furqanuddin Masulili, misused local government programs during the election process.
“There were handbags distributed on a massive scale to the community in Simpang Raya and Toili Districts between February 27 and March,” said the Petitioners’ attorney, A.H. Wakil Kamal, during the preliminary hearing of Case Number 316/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 in Panel 2 Courtroom, Jakarta.
Following the re-voting at all polling stations (TPS) in the two relevant sub-districts, the vote count at the district level showed that the Petitioners obtained 94,176 votes, while the Related Party received 95,073 votes. This resulted in a vote margin of 897 votes, or 0.41 percent. The margin falls within the threshold stipulated in Article 158 of the Law on Regional Head Elections (Pilkada Law), thereby fulfilling the requirement to submit an election results dispute to the Constitutional Court (MK).
According to the Petitioners, the vote margin was the result of recurring actions such as the use of government programs implemented shortly before the re-voting, the involvement of state civil apparatus (ASN), money politics practices, covert campaigning, as well as violations including intimidation and the lack of verification of voter eligibility at several polling stations. These alleged actions are believed to have favored Candidate Pair Number 1, the incumbent.
The Petitioners mentioned Syafrudin Hinelo, the Head of the Banggai District Education Office, who was responsible for distributing school equipment assistance. This assistance was not only provided at schools but also delivered to the homes of students' parents. The school equipment aid, a regional government program, consisted of school bags along with handbags or tote bags containing school uniforms, shoes, and books.
However, the handbags featured an image of Candidate Pair 1, the incumbent Banggai Regent, along with the head of the Banggai Education and Culture Office. Additionally, each handbag contained a note instructing voters to support Candidate 1, with the message, "Remember to choose yellow." Alleged violations, which involved targeting children in early childhood education/kindergarten, elementary, and junior high schools, were reported to the Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) on February 28 and to the Banggai Regency Bawaslu on March 21, 2025.
Alleged Intimidation
Additionally, the Petitioners alleged acts of intimidation by sympathizers of Candidate Pair Number 1 in the lead-up to the voting process. On voting day, April 5, 2025, at approximately 02:24 WITA, Lutfi Samaduri, a member of the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) of the Banggai Regency from the Gerindra Party faction and part of the Candidate Pair Number 3 winning team, received a guest named Retno Nading, who felt threatened after being followed by unknown individuals in East Central Village, Toili District. After the guest left the location, a group of people gathered in front of Lutfi Samaduri’s in-laws’ house and forcibly searched his vehicle without permission.
Lutfi Samaduri also filed a police report on April 7, 2025, regarding alleged criminal acts of violence and election violations that negatively impacted the Candidate Pair 3. The report was submitted to the Banggai Regency Bawaslu. Additionally, a banner was displayed with the message, “We, the people of Moilong and Toili Subdistricts, do not want to be led by Candidate Pair Number 3. Remember, if ATFM is betrayed, there is only one replacement, a 3-layer shroud.” This banner is believed to have influenced voters’ psychology, as it created an atmosphere where voters could not freely exercise their right to vote for the candidate pair of their choice.
In its petitum, the Petitioners requested the Court to disqualify Candidate Pair Number 1, Amiruddin and Furqanuddin Masulili, from participating in the Banggai Regency election. They also request the annulment of the Banggai Regency Election Commission (KPU) Decree Number 17 of 2025, which amended KPU Decree Number 722 of 2024 concerning the Determination of the Results of the 2024 Banggai Regent and Vice Regent Election. This decree was issued and announced on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 17:50 WITA.
The Petitioners also requested the Court to order the Banggai Regency General Election Commission (KPU) to conduct a re-vote at all polling stations across Banggai Regency, involving only Candidate Pair Number 2, Herwin Yatim and Hepy Yeremia Manapo, and Candidate Pair Number 3, Sulianti Murad and Samsul Bahri Mang—excluding Candidate Pair Number 1, Amirudin and Furqanuddin Masulili.
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For information, the Court partially granted Case Number 171/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 concerning the Dispute over the Results of the 2024 Banggai Regent Election, filed by Candidate Pair Number 3, Sulianti Murad and Samsul Bahri Mang. In its ruling, the Court ordered the Banggai Regency General Election Commission (KPU), as the Respondent, to conduct a re-vote at all polling stations in Toili District and Simpang Raya District.
"Ordering the Respondent to conduct a re-vote by including voters listed in the Final Voters List, the Transfer Voters List, and the Additional Voters List used during the November 27, 2024 election for Regent and Deputy Regent of Banggai, at all polling stations in Toili Subdistrict and Simpang Raya Subdistrict," declared Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Suhartoyo, together with eight other constitutional justices, during the decision pronouncement hearing held on Monday, February 24, 2025, in the Plenary Courtroom, Jakarta.
Author : Mimi Kartika
Editor : Lulu Anjarsari P.
PR : Fauzan Febriyan
Translator : Fuad Subhan
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.
Friday, April 25, 2025 | 12:26 WIB 219