The Petitioner of case No. 332/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 at the preliminary hearing for the 2024 Bangka regent election results dispute, Thursday (9/18/2025). Photo by MKRI/Bayu.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) — The results of the 2024 Bangka regent election are challenged by three candidate pairs. One of them are regent-vice regent candidate pair number 4 Andi Kusuma and Budiyono. The preliminary hearing for the case No. 332/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 was presided over by the third panel on Thursday, September 18, 2025 in a panel courtroom.

Andi Kusuma, who appeared before the Court without any counsel, alleged that massive money politics (vote buying) had occurred in the Bangka regent election. He also highlighted alleged maladministration by candidate pair number 1 Ferry Insani-Syahbudin (Relevant Party I) and candidate pair number 5 Rato Rusdiyanto-Ramadian (Relevant Party 2).

The Petitioners believe that the diploma of regent candidate number 5 Rato Rusdiyanto used to register had been problematic. It is, they allege, not recorded in the educational data (Dapodik) and the national student identification number (NISN). In addition, there are different signatures on documents presented by the Community Learning Center (PKBM) between 2020 and 2026.

“Since the very beginning, the candidacy was marred by administrative flaws. The diploma of candidate pair number 5 was only issued on the same date by the relevant office, yet the owner’s name could not be found. Its legalization is even recorded in 2026, when in fact it is still 2025,” said Andi at the hearing.

The Andi–Budiyono ticket also argued that the Bangka Regency Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Body) had failed to conduct a thorough review of their report on alleged violations. He alleged that money politics had been carried out by Relevant Party 1, yet only part of the report was accommodated.

In addition, the Petitioners accused the Bangka Regency KPU (General Elections Commission), as the Respondent, of inconsistency in determining candidate eligibility. The Respondent initially declared one candidate pair ineligible (TMS), but later changed its decision to eligible (MS) based on two letters issued by the Kaur Regency Education and Culture Office. These letters were deemed legally unfounded as they merely referred to a statement from PKBM Bina Baru, which was considered inconsistent.

In their petitums, the Petitioners requested the Court to annul the Bangka KPU’s decision on the results of the 2025 Bangka regional election. They also sought the disqualification of candidate pair number 1 Ferry Insani–Syahbudin and candidate pair number 5 Rato Rusdiyanto–Ramadian from participating in the 2025 Bangka regency election, and asked the Court to declare the Petitioners as the duly elected regent and vice regent of Bangka for 2025.

Author         : Utami Argawati
Editor          : Lulu Anjarsari P.
PR               : Tiara Agustina
Translator     : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

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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