TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The chief of the General Elections Commission (KPU), Husni Kamil Malik has shrugged off all claims of ethical violations surrounding the case of the disputed presidential election results, which is being heard by the Election Organizers Ethics Council (DKPP).
“We ask that the judges dismiss all claims of ethical violations, rule that the defendant did not violate any ethical principles, and rehabilitate the good name of the defendant,” said Husni at a DKPP hearing on Wednesday, August 13, 2014.
When asked about the accusations of accepting fraudulent documents when Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla registered to vie in the elections, Husni explained that all candidate pairs received corrections and were given time to resubmit the necessary documents.
Husni claimed the KPU did not side with a particular candidate. “Both presidential tickets received warnings and had an equal chance to resubmit the registration documents. The process was done in accordance with the principles set out in the constitution,” he explained.
Regarding the unauthorized opening of ballot boxes that the claimants saw as a violation of the law, KPU claimed to have received authorization from the Constitutional Court (MK). The ballot boxes were opened as part of evidence-gathering in order to proceed with the election result dispute case at the Constitutional Court (MK).
“We are building our defense for the election result dispute case. The KPU, as the defendant, has an obligation to the court to formulate a response, armed with the appropriate evidences,” continued Husni.
At the DKPP hearing on Wednesday, KPU called on its regional commissioners from East Java, Jakarta, and Papua as witnesses to the case. The hearing also heard from the General Elections Supervisory Body (BAWASLU) as a witness and defendant, represented by Bawaslu chief Muhammad, and Nelson Simanjuntak and Endang Wihdaningtyas as members.
The hearing was overseen by a panel of judges chaired by Jimly Asshiddiqie, which includes Saut H. Sirait, Nur Hidayat Sardini, Valina Singka, and Anna Erlyana. Representing the KPU as the defendant were Husni Kamil Malik, and commissioners Hadar Nafis Gumay, Ferry Kurnia Rizkiansyah and Sigit Pamungkas.
Fransiska Ninditya / Fitri Supratiwi
