Suspicion Of Cak Imin's Meeting With KPU-Bawaslu Answered, Not To Delay Elections

Muhaimin Iskandar/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The meeting of seven Commissioners of the General Election Commission (KPU) and five Commissioners of the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) was elected with the Deputy Chairman of the DPR Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin) causing various speculations.

This meeting is even suspected to be related to the proposed postponement of the 2024 General Election that was made by Cak Imin. The reason is, Cak Imin is one of the motors who want the election to be postponed.

Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga, is worried that the PKB General Chair will carry a mission to influence the KPU and Bawaslu to participate in postponing the election.

"As a party supporting the government, Cak Imin also has the ability to pressure the KPU and Bawaslu. One of them is to suppress the budget requested by the KPU and Bawaslu so that the 2024 election is not possible," said Jamiluddin in Jakarta, Monday, March 14.

In addition, according to him, it is very unethical and unusual for the general chairman of the party to meet KPU commissioners and Bawaslu members. This is because problems related to the KPU and Bawaslu should be resolved in Commission II of the DPR RI.

Responding to the accusations, the Deputy Chairman of the DPR for Coordination of Finance, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, clarified the meeting between Cak Imin and the KPU-Bawaslu. Dasco said that the election organizer's visit was to the DPR leadership to stay in touch and there was no hidden agenda.

"I need clarification that the members of the KPU and the Bawaslu are not secretive but openly conduct friendships," said Dasco at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Monday, March 14.

In fact, Dasco said, the KPU-Bawaslu-elected commissioner had already spoken to the chairman of the DPR and himself.

"The gathering was not carried out only to Cak Imin, to Mbak Puan to other representatives of the DPR leadership, including myself," he continued.

The daily chairman of Gerindra explained that before visiting Cak Imin's office, they had already gone to his office.

"To my place before I went to Cak Imin. Well, so I don't think it needs to be a polemic. In fact, this can be used as a tradition that even though new ones have not been inaugurated, they just do friendships, introduce themselves, and don't come alone," explained Dasco.

Once again, Dasco emphasized that the KPU-Bawaslu visit was to all DPR leaders. "Yes, to all DPR leaders," he said.

KPU explanation

The elected General Elections Commission (KPU) commissioner clarified the agenda for the meeting with the leaders of the DPR RI.

This follows criticism of the KPU-Bawaslu who met with the Deputy Speaker of the DPR, Muhaimin Iskandar or Cak Imin. Some parties considered the meeting inappropriate and suspected of slipping the agenda for postponing the 2024 election.

Incumbent KPU commissioner Hasyim Asyari explained that the meeting of 7 KPU members and 5 Bawaslu members was at an official invitation from the leadership of the DPR RI.

The DPR leaders who were met were DPR Speaker Puan Maharani and DPR Deputy Chairperson Sufmi Dasco Ahmad and Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar. Meanwhile, Lodewijk F. Paulus and Rachmat Gobel could not be found because they were carrying out their agenda outside the office.

Hasyim explained that in the agenda of the meeting the DPR leadership only ordered that the elected commissioners could work in accordance with the constitution and the Election Law.

"In the hearing, it was also ordered that the KPU and Bawaslu work professionally, independently, accountable and transparently," said Hasyim in Jakarta, Monday, March 14.

In addition, he continued, the leaders of the DPR also said that the KPU and Bawaslu were election organizers that had the character of serving as servants. This means, said Hasyim, that the KPU and Bawaslu are institutions that have the responsibility to serve voters in exercising their rights and also to serve election participants.

"It is also recommended to build a strategic communication pattern so that the service runs effectively, it is hoped that strategic communication methods are used," explained Hasyim.