Fit And Proper Test, Candidates For KPU Members Are Being Questioned About The Statement That Political Parties Do Not Contribute To The DPT Election

JAKARTA - Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives held a fit and proper test for candidates for KPU and Bawaslu members for the period 2022-2027 on Monday, February 14. The Fit and Proper Test will be held for three days until Wednesday, February 16, 2022.

On the first day of the fit and proper test, the candidate for KPU RI August Mellaz, was questioned about his statement that political parties did not contribute to the completion of the final voter list (DPT) for the general election.

A member of Commission II of the DPR from the PDIP faction, Komarudin Watubun, asked August Mellaz to clarify his statement which stated that political parties did not contribute to the election DPT. Komarudin reminded that August's statement was made in 2013.

"Regarding your assessment of the DPT, political parties do not contribute anything to the DPT. Soon, if elected, you will not want a political party to be your partnership. I ask for clarification first," said Komarudin in a fit and proper test broadcast online, Monday, February 14th.

Responding to Komarudin, August Mellaz admitted that he only criticized voters who had the right to vote but were not included in the DPT. As an election activist, he said, he only responded to notes and political parties or election organizers.

"Responding to records whether to political parties or to election organizers. Usually my notes are not like that," explained August.

August then told his experience of participating in drafting the Election Law when he was a government expert. He admitted that he had proposed additional seats in the DPR so that there would be no bad intentions when giving a negative note to the role of political parties.

"I became a member of the formation of Law number seven (Election Law) a number of contributions I made at the Special Committee starting from the addition of seats, 15 seats, to 575," he explained.

Regarding August's answer, the PDIP politician reminded that political parties are partners. He also appealed to candidates for KPU members from non-government organizations (NGOs), if they were elected later, they should cooperate with political parties.

"Do not bring in outside habits. Political parties are partners in our terms in Commission II who have parties, so we have to work well together. Don't let tomorrow be a problem," said Komarudin.