JAKARTA (MKRI) — The Constitutional Court (MK) held a preliminary hearing for the election results disputes (PHPU) of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), Thursday afternoon, May 2, 2024. The hearing was presided over by Arief Hidayat (panel chair), Anwar Usman, and Enny Nurbaningsih in panel 3.

The case No. 08-24/PHPU.DPD-XXII/2024 filed by Sri Sulartiningsih, a candidate of the DPD Number 15 from North Kalimantan Province. The petition is to challenge the General Elections Commission (KPU) Decree No. 360 of 2024.

The Petitioner argued that there was a difference in the vote count certified by the Respondent (KPU) regarding the votes of the Petitioners, Abd. Djali Fatah, and Marthin Billa. According to the Petitioner, Abd. Djali Fatah should have received 3,647 votes, which differs from the 3,649 votes certified by the Respondent. Meanwhile, Marthin Billa should have received 5,313 votes, which differs from the 5,341 votes certified by the Respondent. Meanwhile, the Petitioner's votes, according to both the Petitioner and the Respondent, total 11,871 votes.

"There is a difference in the votes with candidate number 1 and 10. Number 1, Abd. Djali Fatah, and number 10, Marthin Billa. According to the Respondent, candidate number 1 received 3,649 votes, while according to the Petitioner, the correct count is 3,647, with a difference of 2 votes. For Marthin, according to the Petitioner, it's 5,313, whereas according to the Respondent, it's 5,341, with a difference of 28 votes," said legal counsel J. John Lamalo.

The Petitioner alleged that the addition of votes for Abd. Djali Fatah by 2 votes and Marthin Billa by 28 votes, is due to C. Plano differing from D. Results of Regency/City. If the addition of votes for candidate 1 and 10 is subtracted, the Petitioner could obtain a seat in the DPD.

"If there is a reduction for candidate 1 and candidate 10, then the Petitioner may join the DPD," he added.

Thus, the Petitioner requests that the Court grant her petition by canceling the KPU Decree No. 360 of 2024 and certify the Petitioner’s version of the vote acquisition results of the 2024 DPD Election for North Kalimantan Province.

Author: Adam Ilyas
Editor: Lulu Anjarsari P.

PR: Tiara Agustina

Translator: Putri Ratnasari (RA)

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.