Pangandaran KPU Fires KPPS Members Salam 2 Jari Call Prabowo's Name

The head of the Pangandaran KPU Regency, Muhtadin, when interviewed by reporters in Pangandaran, West Java, Wednesday (31/1/2024). BETWEEN ANTARA/HO-KPU Pangandaran

PANGANDARAN - The General Election Commission (KPU) of Pangandaran Regency, West Java, dismissed a member of the polling group (KPPS) for having made a video showing two fingers and naming the presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto.

"After verification, we decided that the person concerned was dismissed. Now the decree has been issued," said Head of the Pangandaran Regency KPU Muhtadin as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 31.

Muhtadin said that the KPPS member at one of the Polangerbumi Village TPS, Cigugur District took action to show two fingers and mention the name of the presidential candidate number 2.

The video of the KPPS member, he said, was spread so that the Pangandaran Regency KPU clarified the person concerned to ask for his motivation.

"The person concerned mentioned the name of the person. If you show a number without mentioning the name of the candidate, maybe it can still be tolerated," he said.

Muhtadin said the results of the examination showed that the person concerned made the video before carrying out technical guidance as a member of the KPPS who had passed the selection stage.

The existence of this incident, he continued, is a lesson for other KPPS members not to take actions that show support or are not neutral even though they are just jokes.

"Even though it's just a joke, it concerns the identity of the presidential candidate," he said.

He said that KPPS members are part of the election organizers so that their existence must be neutral, not in favor of election participants.

Even though KPPS members have the right to vote in the election, Muhtadin said, his right to choice should not be expressed in public spaces.

"They have a choice, but not to be disclosed in public spaces. If done, break the rules," he said.