Minister Of Communication And Information Johnny G Plate Can Still Be A Legislative Candidate, Canceled If There Is An Inkrah Decision

JAKARTA - Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU) Hasyim Asy'ari responded to Johnny Plate's candidacy as a candidate for legislative member (caleg) in the 2024 General Election (Pemilu).

The reason is, NasDem has registered Plate as a candidate for the DPR in the 2024 General Election to the KPU on Thursday (11/5). Hasyim said that the status of a suspect or detention did not cancel the dismissal unless it had permanent legal force (inkrah).

"If the initial processes are still there, there will be no requirements for the candidate to cancel. So once again, for parties or people proposed as candidates, there must already be a court decision with permanent legal force," said Hasyim as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 17.

This is also contained in Article 240 letter (g) of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning the requirements for prospective members of the DPR, Provincial DPRD, Regency/City DPRD which reads, "Regional candidates for members of the DPR, provincial DPRD and district/city DPRD are Indonesian citizens and must meet the requirements: they have never been sentenced to prison based on court decisions that have obtained permanent legal force for committing criminal acts that are threatened with imprisonment of 5 (five) years or more, except openly and honestly convey to the public that the person concerned is a former convict".

Then, continued Hasyim, if anyone who is subject to criminal law wants to resign from the constellation of elections, it is the right of the person concerned. Not only that, but the political party that carries it can also withdraw from the name of the convict from the election.

"There is a time, there is room for time, there are stages, namely during the repair period," he said.

Previously, the General Chairperson (Ketum) of the NasDem Party, Surya Paloh, said that he would consult with the General Elections Commission (KPU) regarding Johnny Plate's candidacy as a candidate for legislative member in the 2024 General Election (Pemilu).

"Regarding this period of dismissal, we will consult with the KPU. If indeed the KPU states that it is okay, we are still based on the presumption of innocence, presumption of innocence. Obviously that," Paloh said at a press conference at NasDem Tower, Central Jakarta, Wednesday afternoon (17/5).

In addition, he said NasDem would also provide legal assistance to Johnny Plate as part of the party.

As previously reported, the Attorney General's Investigator for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) of the Attorney General's Office has named Johnny G Plate, Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) as a suspect in the alleged corruption case of the BTS BAKTI Kominfo procurement project for the period 2020 to 2022.

Johnny was named the sixth suspect in a corruption case in the provision of 4G Base Transceiver Station (BTS) infrastructure and supporting infrastructure for packages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 BAKTI of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in 2020 until 2022.

On this matter, Surya Paloh as the head of NasDem is committed to respecting the applicable legal process.

"This is clear. So this legal process, we must respect it. We still respect it," he said.

Paloh said this was the commitment of the NasDem Party from the start. He said that his party wanted to be at the forefront of law enforcement.

"What is NasDem's attitude? Obviously it is never different, from the initial commitment of this party being established, we want to remain at the forefront. We want to uphold fair legal principles to continue from time to time," he said.