The Attorney General's memorandum delaying the legal process for candidates participating in the 2024 election has the potential to create a number of new problems. Network for Democracy and Electoral Integrity (NETGRIT) researcher Mashudi said that this situation could be detrimental to voters and potential election participants.
"We want the participants or prospective candidates to be people with good track records who are completely clean of alleged legal issues. So we have to know that. Don't let us elect someone who already has a legal case; being elected will be detrimental," explained Mashudi (25/8).
This reduces the rights of voters regarding information disclosure. Even though voters should have received information regarding the end of the legal case involving potential candidates for the 2024 election,
In addition, said Mashudi, the attorney general's memo has the opportunity to harm candidates participating in the 2024 election who are currently in legal proceedings. This situation that delays the legal process will actually encourage the birth of a bad campaign against potential participants in legal problems by political opponents.
"Law enforcement officers, in this case the prosecutor's office, must be strengthened. So, give firm confirmation to law enforcement officials in politicizing cases; they will be given sanctions; internal sanctions will be strengthened," said Mashudi.
For this reason, according to Mashudi, it would be better if the Attorney General strengthened the commitment and integrity of his staff. The aim is not to get involved in the politicization of election-contesting candidates who are involved in legal cases.
Previously, Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin issued a memorandum asking his staff to postpone the process of legal examination of potential contestants for the 2024 election. The memorandum, which is devoted to law enforcement officials in the field of special crimes and intelligence, is valid from October 2023 to February 2024. Head of the Attorney General's Legal Information Center Agung, Ketut Sumedana, emphasized that the attorney general's instructions aim to maintain the independence and neutrality of law enforcement. []
NUR AZIZAH
