Workers sort and fold ballot papers for the 2024 presidential election at a Bogor Elections Commission warehouse in West Java on Jan 15, 2024. - Antara
JAKARTA: Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Hermono has denied an allegation circulating in an online video that accused intelligence entities of being involved in the overseas voter list for the general election in Kuala Lumpur.
"If any external parties try to intervene, it comes back to the PPLN [Overseas Election Committee], would they welcome such intervention or not?" said Hermono on Monday (Jan 22), as quoted by Antara news agency.
The video, which lasts one minute and nine seconds, alleges that there was intelligence intervention in the determination of the final voter list in Kuala Lumpur.
However, Hermono asserted that the voter list was determined based on the results of a PPLN Kuala Lumpur plenary meeting. The meeting not only involved PPLN Kuala Lumpur, but also representatives of political parties, the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Overseas Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu LN) in Kuala Lumpur.
Hermono questioned how anyone could intervene in the plenary meeting that involved such a variety of stakeholders. He stressed that the PPLN must maintain its integrity, as it was the only agency that could accept or reject any external influence.
Hermono said that the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur had been supporting the PPLN and Panwaslu Kuala Lumpur since their inauguration, as they would face a lot of pressure from various interests, given the large number of votes in Malaysia.
Therefore, he said that the embassy’s task was to maintain the neutrality of the Indonesian Embassy and to facilitate the election committee’s duties by providing a place, supporting data, coordination with local authorities and regular dialogue with political parties and community organisations.
Hermono also urged PPLN Kuala Lumpur to ensure the smooth implementation of the 2024 election in Malaysia. "Keep in mind that the election in Malaysia takes place three days earlier than in Indonesia. If there is already turmoil on Feb 11, how will it affect Jakarta?" said Hermono.
He said that there was a sign of a delay in the election in Kuala Lumpur, as the ballot papers for the postal method had not been delivered by Monday, despite the KPU’s deadline of Jan 11.
However, Hermono added that the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur had no authority to intervene in the PPLN’s duties, as only the KPU had the power to do so.
According to PPLN Kuala Lumpur, there are 447,258 registered voters in Malaysia, of which 222,945 will vote in overseas polling booths, while 156,367 will use the postal ballot and 67,946 have chosen the mobile ballot box method. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
