Constitutional Court Judge Reprimands KPU Secretariat For Not Attending The Legislative Election Dispute Session

Screenshot - Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat chaired the trial of the panel of three disputes over the results of the 2024 general election (PHPU), Thursday (2/5/2024). BETWEEN/Fath Putra Mulya.

Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat asked the General Elections Commission (KPU) to seriously face the dispute over the results of the 2024 general election (PHPU) for legislative member elections (pileg).

Arief conveyed this because he found that the commissioner of the Indonesian KPU as the Respondent in Case Number 246-01-12-06/PHPU.DPR-DPRD-XXII/2024 was not present at the hearing with a preliminary examination agenda.

"Please convey that the KPU must be serious. So since yesterday's (dispute) presidential election, the KPU has not taken these issues seriously. It must be conveyed to the commissioner," said Arief as chairman of the third panel session at the trial at the first building of the Constitutional Court, Jakarta, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, May 2.

Initially, the Petitioner in the case, namely the National Mandate Party (PAN), argued that there was a ballot box opening by the Lahat Regency KPU. According to PAN's attorney, the opening of the ballot box that occurred on April 27, 2024 was ordered by the KPU.

PAN questioned that the opening of the ballot box was originally intended to take evidence in the form of D.Hasil Kebupaten, D. Hasil Kecamatan, C. Hasil, and C. Hasil Copy. However, the evidence taken was not related.

"The main problem should be C. results that are inconsistent with D. Hasil. So, what must be presented should be C. Hasil, but in the minutes taken by the KPU, the list is actually present," said PAN.

Arief Hidayat then confirmed to the KPU as the Respondent. However, the Indonesian KPU commissioner is not in the courtroom.

"I asked for confirmation from the Respondent. Is it true that there was an opening incident on April 27th? From the respondent? KPU? Where is the KPU person? The attorney? huh? How is this the KPU?," said Arief.

Representatives from the KPU Secretariat said that the KPU commissioners who were supposed to be present at the trial at panel three were Idham Holik and Yulianto Sudrajat. However, both of them were unable to attend because they were carrying out other tasks.

"The information from friends from the secretariat is that Pak Idham is on the agenda for a technical event to prepare for the Pilkada. Pak Yulianto Sudrajat is receiving provincial friends for consultation regarding the regional elections," said the representative of the KPU Secretariat.

"It means that the Court is considered not important?" added Arief.

Arief said the legislative dispute was a serious problem because it involved the constitutional rights of voters and legislators. Therefore, he said, it needs to be resolved as well as possible.

"General elections must be held by luber and jurdil, stakeholders of all those involved must really carry out their best with good faith," said Arief.