Coordinating Minister Mahfud MD: The Election Commission is Stupid to Intervene

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD in the presidential palace / ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Security (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD said that the General Election Commission (KPU) would act foolishly if it wanted outside intervention.

"Only the KPU is stupid if it wants to intervene. The law says he is independent, some people are intervened by political parties, by regional governments, by village heads, that's stupid", said Mahfud MD in the Jakarta presidential palace, Antara, Friday, January 13.

Previously, representatives of the Civil Society Coalition to Guard Clean Elections, Hadar Nafis Gumay, revealed allegations of election fraud at the stage of verifying political parties while attending a Public Hearing Meeting (RDPU) with Commission II of the DPR RI in Jakarta last Wednesday.

At that time, Hadar presented evidence of a conversation regarding allegations from the messaging application WhatsApp regarding factual verification of the Gelora Party.

"The government shouldn't interfere. That's a hoax as well as news. They said there was interference from the palace. I instead warned. On November 10 there was a report, 'Sir, the KPU is unfair, party A is told to enter, party B is not allowed to enter'. I called, that's all", said Mahfud.

Mahfud then admitted to calling the Secretary General of the General Election Commission Bernad Dermawan Sutrisno.

"Mr. Bernard, there is a lot of information like this, right? Then the answer is 'No sir, it's perpendicular,'" said Mahfud.

Mahfud then recounted the contents of his conversation with KPU Secretary General Bernard Dermawan.

"Don't play around, all parties, if one is given this way, the others are given this way. Don't accept orders from other people. So that's why many forms have changed. I warned that I didn't intervene", explained Mahfud.

Mahfud said he called Bernard Dermawan on 10 November 2022 and never called again after that.

"I (call) November 10. I have never had a relationship with him on January 10. Only once on November 10, when parties complained to me, 'Sir, my party is not in'. Why? 'There are orders from this'. Sir, my party is not in. but it was included. I don't want to know if it's true or not, but I called on November 10 and nothing more than that", said Mahfud.

If Hadar Nafis has evidence regarding the alleged intervention, according to Mahfud, Hadar must prove it.

"Mr. Hadar, why didn't you call me? He's a friend of mine. Is it true that you're coming? I'll tell you. I also reprimanded him because he allegedly deviated, I didn't order this party to enter or not to enter", said Mahfud.

He also emphasized that the government did not intervene in any way against the KPU.

"I won't intervene. If there is, just report it to me. Who will intervene?" Mahfud said.

In a public hearing (RDPU) with Commission II of the DPR, Representative of the Civil Society Coalition to Guard the Clean Election Hadar Nafis Gumay had a chance to show a screen suspected of having conversations with members of the Provincial KPU, in which he assessed that there was unrest due to the alleged intervention of the Central KPU.

Not only that, but it also read the conversation of a member of the Provincial KPU regarding this intervention. In the conversation shown, there are allegations from the Palace and the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs to pass factual verification of the Gelora Party.