KPU Calls No Politization On Inauguration Of Simultaneous Members In The Region

Chairman of the General Election Commission of the Republic of Indonesia (KPU RI) Hasyim Asy'ari (Photo: Antara)

Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia Hasyim Asy'ari said that there was no politicization regarding the simultaneous opportunity for the inauguration of KPU members in May 2023 at the provincial, district, or city level.

"When it comes to whether this is a politicization, I don't think so. Recruitment of KPU members in the province, the authority is given to the Central KPU, the Central KPU which decides to select the electoral team for both members of the provincial, district/city KPU," Hasyim told reporters quoted by ANtara, Sunday.

"The decision on the profile of members of the KPU city, district, province," said Hasyim continued, according to Law Number 7 of 2017 it was determined by the Central KPU for its authority.

The statement was in response to the issue of the KPU which opened the opportunity to recruit KPU members in the regions simultaneously in May 2023. This proposal is planned to be part of a government regulation in lieu of the law (perppu) which is being drafted to respond to the formation of the Papua New Autonomous Region (DOB).

When registering has points of assessment, there is a credit point. So, I think if there is a political view, it's excessive," said Hasyim.

He explained that members of the provincial, central, and district/city KPUs, in the last 10 years, have become one of their separate career paths.

There used to be a PPPK, there was a sub-district supervisory committee, then registered the district KPU, then became a (member) of the provincial KPU, then became a member of the Central KPU. Now, that shows that recruitment is a member of the KPU at the central, provincial, district or city levels is a new career level," he said again.

So, said Hasyim, there is no need to doubt the politicization related to the simultaneous inauguration of KPU members in the regions in 2023, especially since elections are still running in the early stages.

"Of course we will consider friends who, for example, have only been for a period, their professionalism has not been disturbed while being members of the KPU for this period," said Hasyim.

On the same occasion, Hasyim revealed that the proposal to simultaneously inaugurate the election organizers was an adjustment from the simultaneous elections that will be held in 2024.

"After later if there is a regulation in the Perppu, then we will arrange the filling of positions or selection of provincial KPU members, districts/cities simultaneously. For the KPU, May 2023," said Hasyim.

He said that in order to have new members of the regional KPU in May 2023, a selection would need to be held five months earlier. This means that the selection will be held at least in December this year.

"So that January 2023 the selection process for provincial KPU members can be started, including for new provinces of new autonomy regions, such as South Papua, Central Papua, Papua, the Mountains also fill their positions together with all provinces in Indonesia in May," he also said.