Bawaslu Kaji Major Teddy Attends Debate Of Presidential Candidates Allegedly Violating TNI Neutrality

Illustration of the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu). (Between)

JAKARTA - The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) said that it would conduct an in-depth study regarding the presence of Major Teddy Indra Wijaya in the inaugural debate for the 2024 presidential election at the KPU Building, Jakarta, on December 12.

"Yes, that's why it must be studied first, this as an aide, whether it is permissible or what, we will review it first," said Bawaslu Chairman Rahmat Bagja after the DKPP SIETICS Socialization in Jakarta, Monday.

Bagja added that his party could not confirm whether Major Teddy's presence at the presidential candidate debate was proven to have violated the neutrality of the TNI.

If Major Teddy's presence at the debate event is proven to be a form of violation, Bawaslu will convey the findings to the TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto.

"We are currently reviewing it. We are waiting for today, it will not be continued to the commander. We will convey it to the TNI commander," said Bagja.

He explained that after submitting the results of the study to the TNI commander, Bawaslu would only act as a recommendation provider.

Meanwhile, the party who will follow up on the alleged violation of neutrality is the TNI as the agency that oversees Major Teddy.

"We only submit the allegations, recommendations. Later those who will make a decision or related to the results of the alleged violation of Bawaslu, will then be decided and given sanctions, if they are given sanctions or not given sanctions, it will be by the TNI commander," said Bagja.

Previously in the first debate for the 2024 election presidential candidate, some people questioned the presence of Major Teddy Indra Wijaya whose video circulated on social media.

In the video, Teddy Indra Wijaya as personal aide to the presidential candidate number 2 Prabowo Subianto is highlighted by the camera sitting with the ranks of supporters of the Prabowo-Gibran candidate pair while wearing a similar color of clothing.

This makes the public question the neutrality of the TNI which is known to be prohibited from participating as implementers and campaign teams, as regulated in Article 280 paragraph 3 of Law (UU) Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections.