Constitutional Court Judge Reprimands Idham Holik Not Attending The Legislative Dispute Session, KPU: Our Agenda Is So Intensive

Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat (center), Anwar Usman (left) and Enny Nurbaningsih (right) chaired the inaugural trial for the 2024 Legislative Election dispute at the Constitutional Court Building, Jakarta, Tuesday 30 April 2024). (ANTARA PHOTO-Aditya P P)

Commissioner of the Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) Idham Holik said his party was very serious in preparing for the 2024 Pilleg General Election Result Dispute (PHPU) trial which was currently being held at the Constitutional Court (MK).

Idham conveyed this in response to Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat who highlighted the absence of the Indonesian KPU Commissioner in this three-day panel trial, Thursday, May 2. Arief also asked the KPU to seriously face the 2024 Legislative Election dispute.

"We respect what he said. We really respect that. From the start, we were very serious about preparing for this trial," said Idham when met at the Indonesian Constitutional Court Building, Jakarta, May 2, which was confiscated by Antara.

Idham explained that the KPU had divided the commissioners to attend the trial panel, but he admitted that the commissioner's agenda tends to be congested because it is preparing for the 2024 Regional Head Election (Pilkada).

"With regard to the distribution of panels, we have already divided the panels. Incidentally, in each of these panels there are at least two commissioners. But coincidentally our agenda is so tight, where we also have to hold regional head elections and deputy regional heads and KPU as regulators," he said.

However, Idham said the KPU respects what the Constitutional Court judge said. He also said that the KPU always improves.

"In principle, in the future we will fix it. Of course we really respect the Constitutional Court," he said.

Previously, Arief Hidayat asked the KPU to take the PHPU for the 2024 Legislative Election seriously after finding 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. That must be conveyed to the commissioner," said Arief as chairman of the third panel session at the trial at Building I of the Indonesian Constitutional Court, Jakarta, Thursday morning.

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 took place on April 27, 2024 was ordered by the Indonesian 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.

Then, representatives from the Indonesian KPU Secretariat said that the Indonesian 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 technical events to prepare for the regional elections. Pak Yulianto sudrajat is receiving provincial friends for consultation regarding the regional elections," said the representative of the Indonesian KPU Secretariat.

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

Furthermore, Arief said that 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.