47 Missing And 1,216 Refuges, Riau Islands Bawaslu Pay Attention To Voter Data At Natuna Disaster Location

Illustration of the 2024 General Election

TANJUNGPINANG - 47 people have not been found, and 1,216 victims have been displaced due to landslides on Sarasan Island, Natuna Regency. The Riau Islands Provincial Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu Kepri) is watching for changes in the 2024 election voter data.

Chairman of the Riau Islands Bawaslu Said Abdullah Dahlawi asked the Natuna Bawaslu ranks to follow the post-disaster development in order to map the condition of residents to protect their voting rights.

"First, we are concerned and sorry for the disasters experienced by our brothers and sisters in Serasan, hopefully they will be given fortitude and patience. Second, we want to make sure to protect the citizens' voting rights in the 2024 General Election, not to lose," he said.

Said said the change in the potential polling place (TPS) occurred because it was impossible for the TPS to continue to be built at the earthquake site. Changes in TPS must follow the development of residents' conditions, who are victims of landslides.

The survivors may have fled to a safe place so that the arrangement of the TPS needs to be carried out according to the condition of the residents.

"The construction of TPS must be in accordance with the principles, one of which is in the community, which is easily accessible to voters," he said.

Said also asked the Natuna Bawaslu ranks to follow the development of the search for victims buried by landslides. Based on data from the Joint Disaster Response Team for Serasan and East Serasan, 47 people have not been found, and 1,216 victims have fled in various places provided by the government.

"The results of the mapping are to be submitted to the Natuna KPU as an effort to protect the constitutional rights of each voter," he said.

Said also appealed to all ranks of the Riau Islands Bawaslu, especially those on the islands to be aware of bad weather that occurs during the north wind season. Election supervisory officers both at the district and city levels, sub-districts to sub-districts and villages should not force themselves to carry out their duties to the islands if the weather conditions are bad.

"We hope that this bad weather will end soon so that our officers in the field can carry out their duties optimally," he said.