Palace Denies Jokowi Violating Rules, Confirms Selection Team For KPU-Bawaslu Candidates For Government Representatives Only 3 People

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Photo: Setkab)

JAKARTA - The composition of the members of the Selection Team (Timsel) for Candidates for the General Election Commission (KPU) and members of the Election Oversight Body for the term of 2022-2027 formed by President Joko Widodo is considered to have violated the rules.

Because, according to the Election Law, government representatives can only be filled by 3 people. However, Needdem considers that there are 4 members of the government representative team.

Among them were the Jury who served as Deputy at KSP, Bahtiar as Director General of Polpum, Ministry of Home Affairs, Edward as Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights, and Poengky as Commissioner of Kompolnas.

This was denied by the Special Staff of the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg), Faldo Maldini. One of the parties from the State Palace emphasized that Jokowi's decision was still in accordance with the rules.

"We think everything is still in accordance with the applicable rules and laws. There are only three government representatives there, namely the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, KSP, and the Ministry of Home Affairs," Faldo said when contacted, Wednesday, October 13.

Meanwhile, regarding Poengky's position from Kompolnas, Faldo considers him a qualified activist and legal practitioner. Poengky, said Faldo, is a representative of community leaders, not the government.

"In Kompolnas there are representatives of the police, there are representatives of the government, namely several ministers, and there are representatives of the community. Mrs. Poengky is a representative of the community there," said Faldo.

Faldo claimed that the eleven team members will work with integrity. "All of them work with their respective capacities, track records, and professionalism. Their integrity is tested and their knowledge is also strong," he continued. They are Jury Ardiantoro as chairman; Chandra M. Hamzah as Vice Chairman; Bahtiar as Secretary; and then the members were Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, Airlangga Pribadi Kusman, Hamdi Muluk, Endang Sulastri, I Dewa Gede Palguna, Abdul Ghaffar Rozin, Betti Alisjahbana, and Poengky Indarty.

If you glance at the professional backgrounds of the eleven names, they do represent a variety of expertise, such as former election organizers as well as experts in politics, law, information technology, psychology, and management.

However, there is something to highlight. A member of the Advisory Council of Needdem, Titi Anggraini, arrested four members representing elements of the government, including Kompolnas.

"From the existing composition, there are names that are part of the KSP, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and also the Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights. In addition, there are members of the National Police Commission whose institutions are responsible to the President," said Titi.

Titi considers this composition to violate Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections. In the Election Law, it is stated that the KPU-Bawaslu selection team consists of 3 elements from the government, 4 elements from academia, and 4 elements from the community.

"If you refer to these provisions, the four elements of the government are not in line with the mandate of the law. They cannot be considered as representing individuals who have expertise because basically they are holding active positions," explained Titi.