Bawaslu Affirms Perpetrators Of Intimidation At PSU Kuala Lumpur Can Be Sentenced

Chairman of Bawaslu Rahmat Bagja when giving a statement at the Bawaslu building, Jakarta, Wednesday (13/3/2024). (ANTARA/Rio Feisal)

Chairman of the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Rahmat Bagja said that the perpetrators of intimidation at the Kuala Lumpur re-voting (PSU), Malaysia could be punished.

"It can be brought to criminal action, but we see it depends on the local authorities, and the existing Gakkumdu Center (Integrated Law Enforcement) because the Gakkumdu Center is again focusing on handling criminal offenses in court," said Bagja at the Bawaslu building, Wednesday, March 13.

Bagja then said that it was possible that the case would involve the Malaysian police, namely the Malaysian Royal Police (PDRM).

"Our police are likely (to handle). PDRM will be needed later if needed," he said.

Bawaslu is looking for the people who carried out the intimidation. He even admitted that he was also the party who was intimidated during the Kuala Lumpur PSU.

"Intimidation is not just intimidation of the organizers there. There was also intimidation to me when he was monitoring at KSK (City of Mobile Voices) 039," he said.

Previously, Bawaslu said the PSU in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia went smoothly, but there were a number of notes.

Bagja explained that one of the notes in the Kuala Lumpur PSU is the intimidation carried out by voters registered as the Special Voter List (DPK) for the Overseas Voting Organizing Group (KPPSLN) and the Supervisory of the Mobile Voting/Vocational City (TPS/KSK).

"The case occurred at KSK 039 in the Klang area. The intimidation carried out was not only caused by the lack of patience of voters, but also because voters who did not accept were reprimanded by supervisors and KPPS when they were found to have violated the provisions," said Bagja in a statement received in Jakarta, Monday (11/3).

Bagja explained that some of the voters were reprimanded for photographing ballot papers that had been voting, directing voters to choose one of the candidates in the KSK area, peeking at other voters when voting, to disrupting security.

Therefore, Bagja revealed that Bawaslu would act against voters who violated the Kuala Lumpur PSU. In fact, he continued, he would collect a number of evidences.

"We also have several suspects who are intimidating, and we will convey to the Gakkumdu Center to enforce the law so that it becomes an evaluation and also a concern for people who want to intimidate election organizers in the future," he said.

The KPU held the Kuala Lumpur PSU on Sunday (10/3) with two methods, namely KSK and TPS (voting places).