DKPP Strengthens Capacity of Regional Examination Teams in Eastern Indonesia
Makassar (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Republic’s Election Organiser Honours Council (DKPP) continues to enhance the role of regional examination teams (TPD) in eastern Indonesia through capacity-building dissemination to tackle upcoming election issues.
“So, we gather regional examination teams (TPD) from several provinces in the region, covering 14 provinces in eastern Indonesia. These regional examiners consist of one ex officio member from the KPU, one from Bawaslu, and community figures, usually from universities,” said DKPP RI Chairman Heddy Lugito in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Monday.
He explained that the TPD will assist the panel chairman in examining ethical cases and ethical violations by organisers. This is because the previous election saw a significant increase in ethical violations compared to prior ones.
“During the political year, over the course of a year, there were 675 ethical complaints. That means more than two per day, and all must be adjudicated. If not proven, we rehabilitate them. If proven, the sanction depends on the ethical violation committed,” he elaborated.
Nevertheless, Heddy noted that the TPD’s community figures, mostly academics from universities, work voluntarily without a fixed salary and only receive an honorarium after hearings.
“The regional examination teams’ community figures are not salaried. It’s extraordinary; they receive no honorarium. They come from universities, usually lecturers and academics. They are given an honorarium only during hearings. That’s the greatness of our academics, continuing to work even without compensation,” he stated.
Heddy hopes that the capacity-building for TPD, scheduled from 10-12 May 2026, will enhance their knowledge so that in the future, they not only serve as TPD but become the backbone of DKPP at the local level for ethical socialisation.
“Through ethical socialisation, we hope that in the future, such large-scale ethical violations will no longer occur because the TPD’s socialisation efforts have been very extensive,” he said.
“The biggest ethical violation is betraying the people’s voice, such as shifting or manipulating the people’s votes; that cannot be forgiven by DKPP because it is part of betraying democracy,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chairman of DPR RI’s Commission II, Muhammad Rifqinizamy Karsayuda, as DKPP’s partner and the event organiser, stated that elections are a democratic instrument for legitimate, peaceful, and civilised power rotation or change. This differs from absolute monarchy or kingdom systems.
“Our elections are chosen as an instrument for open, periodic, and regular power rotation. But the basic principle of power struggles is individuals’ desires to gain power, which tend to justify any means,” he remarked.
Furthermore, Rifqy explained that with the existing dynamics, election organisers in the regions are sometimes dragged into power transitions. This is because they do not understand ‘mens rea’ and thus commit violations under external pressures.
“Election organisers in the regions sometimes lack rational choices to avoid ethical and natural violations. However, whatever it is, DKPP serves as an early warning to us all because most people do not just want to remain local organisers but aim to advance to the national level,” he said.
The event was also attended by KPU RI Chairman Mochammad Afifuddin, Bawaslu RI Member Herwyn JH Malonda, South Sulawesi DPRD Chairman Andi Rachmatika Dewi, South Sulawesi Provincial Secretary Jufri Rahman, South Sulawesi KPU and Bawaslu Chairmen, as well as KPU and Bawaslu members from 14 provinces in eastern Indonesia.