MPU Aceh Issues Fatwa Can Choose Empty Boxes In Pilkada

BANDA ACEH - The Ulama Consultative Council (MPU) or MUI Aceh has issued a limited fatwa related to the law that it is permissible to choose an empty box in the implementation of the 2024 simultaneous regional elections.

"Yes, so this is specifically a limited fatwa related to choosing an empty box," said the chairman of the Aceh MPU, Tgk Faisal Ali or who is familiarly called Lem Faisal, in Banda Aceh as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, November 19.

The law may choose that the empty box is contained in the limited fatwa of the Aceh MPU Number 1 of 2024 concerning the Law of Choosing an Empty Box in the Regional Head Election.

The three decisions of the limited MPU Aceh fatwa, namely, choosing a leader is a constitutional right in line with Islamic law for every citizen who has the right to vote.

The second point is mentioned, the law of choosing a leader who is Muslim is mandatory.

Third, the law of voting on the empty box on the ballot paper in the Pilkada is permissible.

Lem Faisal explained that the election of leaders in Islam depends on the agreed way. With the main provisions, there should not be a vacancy of leaders.

If you look at the electoral system in Indonesia and Aceh in particular, then areas that only have one candidate pair. So, choosing the empty box is allowed.

"So looking at our state administration system, choosing empty boxes is not eliminating leaders. The leader is still there, but not by being elected, but by being appointed by the government," he said.

He said, religion provides flexibility for the community to choose empty boxes. In the sense that they do not agree with the existing candidates, they finally prefer a leader who will be appointed by the government.

"Therefore, people who take the initiative or have the will to choose empty boxes are justified in our religion (Islam)," said Lem Faisal.

In the 2024 Pilkada, there are two areas in Aceh that fight empty boxes, namely for Aceh Tamiang and North Aceh Regencies.

For the candidate for Regent of Aceh Tamiang, the candidate who will fight the empty box is the Armia Fahmi-Ismail pair. They were promoted by nine political parties both nationally and locally.

The supporters of Armia Fahmi-Ismail are the Aceh Party, the Aceh Nanggroe Party, NasDem, PAN, Democrats, PKS, Golkar, PPP and Gerindra.

As for North Aceh, those who will fight the empty box are the pair Ismail A Jalil (Father Wa) and Tarmizi (Tarmizi Panyang). Both are cadres of the Aceh Party.

This pair was promoted and supported by 15 local and national political parties, namely the Aceh Party, PAS, SIRA, PNA, PDA, PKB, NasDem, PAN, Democrat, PKS, Gerindra, PSI, PDI Perjuangan, PPP and Golkar.