Akhyar Nasution Not Guilty, Bawaslu Stops Complaints On Medan Pilkada Campaign Violations

Candidate for Mayor of Medan Akhyar Nasution (blue shirt)

MEDAN - The Medan City Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) stated that it did not find any violations of the Medan Regional Election with the reported candidate for mayor Akhyar Nasution. The complaint from the reporter, Hasan Basri Sinaga, was stopped by the Medan Bawaslu.

Hasan Basri is said to not know much about the case he complained to Bawaslu. Hasan Basri reported Akhyar Nasution based on photo information obtained by Facebook. Bawaslu assessed that the complaint did not have strong reasons.

"In essence, we did not find any element of campaign violations committed by candidate number 1 Akhyar Nasution in the case," said Head of Bawaslu Medan, Payung Harapan in a written statement, Sunday, October 25.

Hasan Basri's case attracted attention because he accused Akhyar Nasution of committing campaign violations in front of children. Hasan Basri, who is said to be a supporter of another candidate pair, accused Akhyar of campaigning at the Tahfiz Anwar Saadah House, a religious school under the guidance of the Big Family under a Wheeled Tree (Dipora) on October 14.

After the KPU regulation, every candidate for regional head is indeed prohibited from conducting campaigns at schools and in front of minors. If proven to have committed a violation, that candidate can be disqualified.

Hasan Basri apparently knew that Akhyar visited the Koran school from Facebook. There he saw a photo of Akhyar with the children, raising his thumbs. In Hasan Basri's perception, Akhyar was conducting a campaign in front of children.

On that basis, on October 17, Hasan Basri complained to the Medan City Bawaslu. Hasan Basri hopes that Bawaslu will give sanctions to Akhyar for violating the campaign.

However, when asked for information by Bawaslu, Hasan Basri admitted that he did not see Akhyar's presence at the event directly. The reporter did not even know anything about the event.

“I only know from Facebook. I saw a photo of Akhyar with the children holding up their thumbs as sign number 1, so I complained by attaching the photo to Bawaslu, "said Hasan Basri.

Even though the complaint had no solid basis, Bawaslu still summoned Akhyar for questioning. At a meeting at the Bawaslu office, Wednesday, October 21, Akhyar, who was accompanied by his legal advocacy team, explained all the problems he faced.

"It is true that I had a visit to the Tahfiz Anwar Saadah House at the invitation of the school owner. The aim is to motivate the children at the school to study hard, ”said Akhyar.

At that time, Akhyar met with several parents of the santri. There, Akhyar thanked the parents who sent their children to the tahfiz house.

"Thank you ma'am, for educating our young generation to become fighters of Islam," said Akhyar while showing his thumbs up as a compliment.

His colleague took a photo of Akhyar when he raised his thumb. Even Akhyar posted the photo on his Facebook account, Nasution Akhyar while adding motivational words for the children who go to school at the Tahfiz house.

That photo later became the basis for a complaint submitted by Bobby's supporter Hasan Basri Sinaga. But because it was not accompanied by strong legal reasons, the complaint was declared not proven.