Megawati Invites People Not to Be Afraid of Intimidation When Using Their Voting Rights in 2024 Regional Elections

JAKARTA - The Indonesian people are asked not to be afraid of intimidation when exercising their right to vote independently, freely, and sovereignly in the 2024 Pilkada. Moreover, the Constitutional Court (MK) has emphasized in its decision that regional officials, the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), and Indonesian Police (Polri) will be punished if they are not neutral.

This was conveyed by the General Chairperson of the PDI Perjuangan Party, Megawati Soekarnoputri through a video broadcast played at the PDI Perjuangan Party Central Executive Board (DPP) office on Jalan Diponegoro, Menteng, Jakarta, yesterday, Wednesday.

"With this legal basis, all Indonesian people do not need to hesitate and be afraid in facing various intimidations. Anyone who intends to cheat and is not democratic will face the power of the people," she said.

Megawati explained that the 2024 Pilkada must be a momentum to choose the best, most capable leader who has a good track record of achievement and is responsible for the future of the nation.

Megawati also reminded that in the constitution, every citizen has the same rights in the eyes of the law. Likewise, the PDI Perjuangan Party has the same rights as other political parties.

"Use the right to vote independently, freely, and sovereignly," she said.

The 5th President also reminded that no power should be able to hinder the people's freedom to choose.

"To all state apparatus, acting regional heads, TNI/Polri, State Civil Apparatus (ASN), sub-district heads, to village heads, I appeal as the people who also have the same rights to be neutral and not to take sides," Megawati said.

Moreover, according to her, the Constitutional Court has made an important decision, that state apparatus who are not neutral can be subject to criminal sanctions. "That is the meaning of the Constitutional Court's decision Number 136/PUU-XXII/2024 through the revision of Article 188 of Law Number 10 of 2016," she said.

In detail, Law Number 10 of 2016 Second Amendment to Law Number 1 of 2015 concerning the Stipulation of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 1 of 2014 concerning the Election of Governors, Regents, and Mayors into Law (Regional Election Law).

"I will show that there is evidence of this, to be read by all Indonesian people," she said.

In its decision, the Constitutional Court changed the wording of Article 188 of the Pilkada Law by adding the legal subjects of regional officials and the TNI/Polri. Thus, Article 188 of the Regional Election Law reads, "every state official, regional official, ASN official, member of the TNI/Polri, and village head or sub-district head who intentionally violates the provisions as referred to in Article 71, shall be punished with imprisonment of at least 1 month or a maximum of 6 months, and/or a fine of at least IDR 600,000 or a maximum of IDR 6,000,000".

"With this legal basis, all Indonesian people do not need to hesitate and be afraid in facing various intimidation. Anyone who intends to cheat, and is not democratic, will face the power of the people," concluded Megawati.