The Name Of The Elected KPU-Bawaslu Members Is The Same As A Chain Message, Observer: The People Will Judge The Fit And Proper Test Is Just A Formality

JAKARTA - Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives has determined the elected members of the KPU and Bawaslu for the 2022-2027 period on Wednesday, February 16, evening.

The seven elected KPU members are Betty Epsilon Idroos, Hasyim Asy'ari, Mochammad Afifuddin, Parsadaan Harahap, Yulianto Sudrajat, Idham Holik and August Mellaz.

Meanwhile, the five members of the RI Bawaslu are Lolly Suhenty, Puadi, Rahmat Bagja, Totok Haryono and Herwyn Jefler Hielsa Malonda.

The determination of the members has led to speculation because the names chosen are similar to the list of candidates circulating through chain messages since 2 days ago.

The information spread through WhatsApp messages for the seven KPU members including Parsadaan Harahap, Hasyim Ansyari, Betty Epsilon, I Dewa Kade, Yulianto Sudrajat, Yessy Momongan and Viryan. Meanwhile, the five Bawaslu members mentioned are Rahmat Bagja, Puadi, Totok, Aditya Perdana, and Mardian. Both the DPR leadership and the DPR RI Commission II leaders had previously denied the chain message. The reason is, the names that are set can be exactly the same as the chain messages that had circulated in the public.

"If the chain message is true, people will feel concerned and inflamed. Because people will judge, so far the fit and proper test is only a formality and pretense," said Ujang Komarudin in Jakarta, Thursday, February 17. According to the Executive Director of the Indonesia Political Review (IPR), the similarity of the results in the chain messages also indicates that the fit and proper test for candidates for the KPU-Bawaslu RI is a place for elite political chats to be made.

"That's politics, anything can happen. Lobbying and compromise will be more decisive than the fit and proper test," concluded Ujang.