Bengkulu Governor In OTT, Golkar Legislator Wanti-Wanti KPK: Don't Be A Political Tool Ahead Of The Pilkada

Bengkulu Governor's office was sealed by the KPK, in Bengkulu, Monday. (25/11/2024). ANTARA/Boyke Ledy Watra

JAKARTA - Member of Commission II DPR RI from the Golkar faction, Ahmad Irawan, warned the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) not to become a political tool ahead of the implementation of the 2024 Simultaneous Pilkada.

This was conveyed by Irawan highlighting the case of the arrest of Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah, who was hit by the KPK's hand arrest operation (OTT) on Saturday, November 23. The incumbent governor was also named a suspect in the extortion and gratification case.

"I hope that the KPK as law enforcer in responding to and during elections like now will be fair, wise and impartial. Don't become a political tool ahead of Pilkada like this," said Irawan, Tuesday, November 26.

Irawan questioned why the KPK arrested Rohidin just days before the Bengkulu gubernatorial election. Irawan also suspected that Rohidin's arrest ahead of the implementation of the Pilkada on November 27 was an attempt to politicize.

"Pak Rohidin participated in the election of regional heads and the timing of the determination of the suspect ahead of the vote on November 27, 2024, his tendency and strong suspicion as an effort to politicize," said the legislator from the East Java V electoral district.

According to Irawan, what the KPK has done raises the presumption that the KPK's arrest was carried out to limit the space for candidate pairs, and build perceptions of candidates indicated by corruption cases. He also assessed that the KPK's OTT weakened consolidation ahead of the vote which ultimately meant Rohidin lost.

"Pak Rohidin has high electability and is wide distance from his competitors in the Pilkada. Just try to check his electability in various surveys, very far away," said Irawan.

"Of course to hold back the electability or thwart it, various efforts will be made to thwart Pak Rohidin's victory," he continued.

Irawan also reminded that there was an agreement between the KPK and the Prosecutor's Office not to take legal action against regional head candidates who were undergoing the election process, except in very urgent cases.

"Although the KPK has the authority to take action against corruption, this timing of arrests can lead to negative perceptions and noise in the middle of the Pilkada process," said Irawan.

Members of the Commission in the DPR in charge of Government and Election affairs, including the Pilkada, are worried that the arrests made ahead of voting can affect political stability. Irawan also assessed that public trust in the Pilkada process could be injured.

"This KPK action can be considered as an effort to politicize the law if it is not carried out transparently and accountably," he said.

Furthermore, Irawan said, Rohidin has constitutional rights in which he can be considered innocent before a decision has permanent legal force (inkracht) in accordance with the principle of presumption of innocence.

Irawan also said that Rohidin still has the right to file pretrial legal remedies. Therefore, he appealed to the people of Bengkulu to continue the Pilkada process peacefully.

"I also appeal to election organizers (KPU & Bawaslu) to continue to stick to the law (rule of law) to realize honest and fair elections," concluded Irawan.