Amphuri Objects To KPU's Policy On Election Schedule, Firman: Don't Ignore Congregational Voice Rights

General Chairperson of Amphiri Firman Muhammad Nur did not agree with the KPU's policy on PPLN. (Photo: Savic Rabos, DI: Raga/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Central Board of the Muslim Association for Hajj and Umrah Organizers of the Republic of Indonesia (DPP AMPHURI), expressed objections to the General Elections Commission (KPU) policy regarding Umrah pilgrims to vote in their respective polling stations (TPS) in Indonesia, not in Saudi Arabia in the 2024 General Election (Pemilu) which will be held on February 14, 2024, or if there are two rounds in the Presidential Election (Pilpres) which is planned to be held on June 26, 2024.

This was conveyed by the General Chairperson of the AMPHURI DPP Firman M Nur, in Jeddah, Friday, January 12, responding to the answer to AMPHURI's letter to the KPU on December 11, 2023.

Firman explained that in the letter numbered 2242/DPP-AMPHURI/XII/2023, dated December 11, 2023, AMPHURI asked the KPU to facilitate Indonesian people who are carrying out Umrah and Hajj services to give their voting rights during the Legislative Election and Presidential Election in a place that has been determined by the Overseas Election Committee (PPLN) in Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Mecca and Medina).

The reason, said Firman, is that in the implementation of the vote on February 14, 2024, there are still many Umrah pilgrims in the Holy Land. Moreover, if in the presidential election there will be two rounds scheduled for around June 26, 2024, which coincides with 19 Dzulhijjah 1445H, of which approximately 210 thousand pilgrims are still in the Holy Land.

Through this letter, AMPHURI reminded the organizers of the 2024 General Election and PPLN in Saudi Arabia to pay attention to this condition. KPU must provide equal opportunities for Muslim communities who are worshiping the Holy Land to be able to fulfill their voting rights in the 2024 General Election," he said in a written statement received by VOI.

Unfortunately, Firman continued, the letter was only answered by PPLN Jeddah, not by the KPU. Even then, PPLN Jeddah only answered in the form of an announcement about the special arrangements for Indonesian Umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia in the 2024 General Election at PPLN Jeddah.

According to Firman, the announcement stated that input from the Indonesian KPU was for Umrah pilgrims so that they should be able to choose their respective polling stations in Indonesia, not in Saudi because they would reduce the right to vote on Indonesian citizens in Saudi. In fact, Firman continued, the KPU should have been able to anticipate if it would harm voters in Saudi Arabia for Umrah pilgrimage which is indeed a human right in worship.

If indeed, the KPU and PPLN Jeddah refer to data from the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) regarding the average number of Umrah pilgrims, which every month as many as 100,000 people, then the KPU and PPLN should be able to anticipate it by adding the number of ballots that must be prepared. This means, said Firman, with this data, the KPU and PPLN Jeddah must be able to anticipate the possibility of an Indonesian citizen being in Saudi Arabia.

"The way, can be by opening up opportunities for people to register who will move when fulfilling their voting rights because they are worshiping in the Holy Land," said Firman.

"Especially if the results of the presidential election will finally have to go through two rounds, where it will be scheduled for June 26, 2024, to coincide with ten days of wuskuf worship, it is certain that many Muslims are still in the Holy Land, which is estimated to be more than 201 thousand pilgrims," he explained.

If it is not anticipated from the start, said Firman, of course this will be detrimental to Muslims, because they cannot participate in the vote of the second round of presidential elections. Even though this is the time for Muslims to fulfill their voting rights which are the political rights of all Indonesian citizens.

"Therefore, AMPHURI asked the KPU and PPLN in Saudi Arabia not to neglect the right to vote which is the political right of Muslims who are worshiping in the Holy Land. Don't let the voices of Muslims just disappear," he said.