"The 1945 Constitution has mandated that general elections are held by a national, permanent, and independent KPU. It is enshrined in Article 22E, Paragraph 5," he stated here on Sunday.
Sadikin delivered this statement in response to a proposal to change the status of KPU and Bawaslu to ad hoc bodies or non-permanent institutions.
The proposal came from a member of the House Legislation Body (Baleg), Saleh Partaonan Daulay, who, in a House hearing on October 31, argued that the KPU should become an ad hoc institution that would only operate for two years for preparing and organizing the elections.
Hence, he said, more state funds can be saved when elections are not held.
However, Sadikin affirmed that all changes related to the KPU and Bawaslu must be based on the 1945 Constitution and the applicable laws and regulations.
He emphasized that the evaluation of KPU and Bawaslu should continue, though it did not mean altering their status to non-permanent institutions.
"(Evaluate) the recruitment and selection of election organizer staff at all levels to recruit those with integrity, capability, and professionalism and those who any party cannot intervene. That way, elections can be held with more quality and legitimately," Sadikin remarked.
Instead of changing the status of KPU and Bawaslu from permanent to institutions that only operate temporarily, Sadikin encouraged a thorough evaluation of the recruitment and selection of electoral staff at all levels.
The concurrent scheduling of legislative, presidential, and regional head elections in 2024 prompted the proposal to revise KPU and Bawaslu's status.
According to Baleg's proposal, with no other elections in the near future, changing the status of election organizing bodies into ad hoc institutions would reduce government spending.
In this regard, Sadikin stated that separating the electoral process into distinct national and local elections within the Election Law revision draft would bolster the existence of KPU and Bawaslu.
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Translator: Putu S, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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