People Asked To Be Patient, Bawaslu Is Handling The Issue Of Voice Letters Submerged In Jeddah

Member of the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) RI Lolly Suhenty (photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Member of the Indonesian Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) Lolly Suhenty said that his party was handling the alleged violation related to the issue of the ballot being submerged in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

"It is currently being handled by the Overseas Election Supervisory Committee, Panwaslu LN in Jeddah. The allegation is an alleged administrative violation," said Lolly in Jakarta, Tuesday, quoted by Antara.

Therefore, he asked the public to wait for the results of the investigation of the alleged violation.

"This is all in the process. We are waiting because that is the authority of the Panwaslu LN," he said.

Meanwhile, Lolly was reluctant to answer in advance regarding the agreement between the local party management and the Jeddah Overseas Election Committee (PPLN) to submerge the remaining ballots.

"Don't say that. That's what Bawaslu is clarifying. So, what is still unclear is what Bawaslu is looking for a bright spot. We are currently in the process. So we have no comment (not commenting) first with the information he said," said Lolly.

Previously, Chairman of the Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) Hasyim Asy'ari said that the ballots submerged in Saudi Arabia were not in accordance with the applicable regulations in terms of follow-up to unused ballots.

"Yes, it is not in accordance with the rules," said Hasyim at the Indonesian KPU Office, Jakarta, Monday (12/2).

He has also confirmed the ballot with PPLN Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. According to him, the ballots have been agreed by local party officials to be destroyed because they are not used.

"Well, it turns out that there was a conversation between PPLN Jeddah and the party officials there, it was agreed that to avoid it being submerged, it was destroyed. So, it was the agreement of the parties there," he explained.

To note, a video circulated on social media X showing many ballots immersed in a transparent box. The box is filled with water flowing through the hose.

The General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia announced the participants of the 2024 General Election as many as 18 national political parties, namely (according to the serial number) of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Gerindra Party, PDI Perjuangan, Golkar Party, Nasdem Party, Labor Party, and the Gelora Indonesia Party.

Next, Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS), Partai Kebangkitan Nusantara (PKN), Partai Hanura, Partai Garuda, Partai Amanat Nasional (PAN), Partai Bulan Bintang (PBB), Partai Demokrat, Partai Solidaritas Indonesia (PSI), Partai Perindo, Partai Persatuan Pembangunan (PPP), and Partai Ummat.

In addition, the election for legislative members (pileg) was also attended by six local political parties, namely the Aceh Nanggroe Party, the Atjeh Beusaboh Tha'at and Taqwa Generation Party, the Aceh Darul Party, the Aceh Party, the Aceh Prosperous Justice Party, and the Aceh People's Independent Solidity Party.

The Indonesian KPU has also determined the 2024 Presidential and Vice Presidential Election participants, namely the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar pair number 1, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka number 2, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md. serial number 3.

After the campaign period from November 28, 2023 to February 10, 2024, there will be a calm period on February 11'13. One day later, February 14, 2024, the presidential election, the legislative election, including the election for members of the DPD RI.