Called The Palace Circle In The Dirty Vote Film, Acting Governor Of West Java Bey: I'm Neutral

PJ Governor Of West Java, Bey Tahri Machmudin (ANTARA)

BANDUNG - Acting Governor of West Java Bey▁Keputusanhi Machmudin emphasized that he remains neutral and does not take sides even though his name is referred to as the "close person" of the Presidential Palace in the documentary film "Dirty Vote".

Prior to serving as Acting Governor of West Java, Bey was Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media at the Presidential Secretariat and was often in the same ring with President Joko Widodo.

"Regarding the film, it is impossible for us, ASN, TNI, Polri to comment because we are neutral; and regarding me being there (Dirty Vote), it is true that I am from the Presidential Secretariat, but I am neutral and have never taken sides," Bey said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, February 12.

In fact, Bey challenges anyone to prove that they are not neutral and benefit certain parties in the 2024 General Election, especially in the presidential election, as revealed in the documentary.

"I was neutral from the start. Please show me that I am not neutral," he said.

Bey also emphasized that his party together with the West Java Provincial Forkopimda strongly opposed fraud, so he supported Bawaslu together with the Integrated Law Enforcement Center (Gakkumdu) to work more massively.

"Don't let fraud occur. We want the 2024 election to run peacefully, honestly, and fairly in accordance with our declaration at the beginning that West Java was Anteng (safe, neutral, and calm)," he said.

In a documentary that was shown on social media, Dirty Vote, it was revealed that the 2024 General Election was suspected of having irregularities as seen from various dynamics that occurred.

One of those mentioned in the film is the appointment by President Joko Widodo of governors in various regions, including Bey Machmudin as the Acting Governor of West Java, which is considered strategic with the highest number of voters in the 2024 Election of around 35 million in 27 districts and cities in the province.

Apart from Bey, Jokowi also appointed the Head of the Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono as the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta since 2022.