Personal Data Protection Is The Reason The KPU Gives Limited Silon Access To Bawaslu

Member of the Indonesian KPU Idham Holik at the KPU Media Center, Jakarta, Monday (16/10/2023). (ANTARA/Narda Margaretha Sinambela/aa)

JAKARTA - Member of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Idham Holik said the reason for providing limited access for the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) to the Candidacy Information System (Silon) is because there is personal data of someone who must be protected.

"In the nomination of legislative members, there are many documents categorized as excluded information," said Idham Holik when contacted in Jakarta, Thursday, October 26, confiscated by Antara.

Idham said this was in accordance with the mandate of Law Number 14 of 2008 concerning Public Information Disclosure.

According to him, the law stipulates the obligation for every public agency to open access for every public information applicant to obtain information, except for certain information.

"The exception is public information, which if it is opened and given to the applicant for public information, it can reveal personal secrets," said Idham.

The excluded public information, according to him, ranges from personal history and the condition of family members, medical history and physical and psychological health care, to notes regarding the activities of formal and non-formal education units.

"Documents of diplomas, life history lists, physical and spiritual health certificates as well as drug-free, and others are requirements documents for legislative candidates who are categorized as information excluded from the Law on Public Information Disclosure," he said.

According to him, since July 18, 2013, the Indonesian KPU has issued an official letter addressed to the Indonesian Bawaslu to invite the electoral supervisory agency to access the nomination documents for legislative members for 24 hours, if it is found that there are allegations that the initial documents are fake or false.

"If Bawaslu submits findings on the initial allegations of forgery or incorrectness of the nomination documents to the KPU, the KPU will also communicate to political parties that apply for a list of candidates for legislative members," said Idham.

On Wednesday, October 25, the Election Organizers Honorary Council (DKPP) rejected the Indonesian Bawaslu complaint against the Indonesian KPU defendant in case Number 106-PKE-DKPP/VIII/2023.

In the complaint, the Indonesian Bawaslu accused the Indonesian KPU of limiting supervision and implementing the election stages beyond schedule.

"Decided that, one, rejects the complainants' complaints in its entirety," said DKPP member Ratna Dewi Pettalolo during a hearing reading the verdict at the DKPP Building, Jakarta, Wednesday, October 25.

DKPP also decided to rehabilitate the good name of KPU Chairman Hasyim Asy'ari and the KPU members since the verdict was read.

During the trial, Bawaslu asked DKPP to impose a temporary dismissal sanction on the Chairman of the Indonesian KPU Hasyim Asy'ari and members of the KPU.