Jakarta – The Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) has denies claims that it allowed a pressure group against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama to observe the upcoming gubernatorial election runoff.
The organizer of the Tamasya Al Maidah (Al Maidah Tour), which is being facilitated through an Android application that encourages Indonesians to "guard" 13,032 polling stations in the capital, said KPU Jakarta head Sumarno had given the group permission.
"Sumarno gave us permission during a meeting last Wednesday," said Eggi Sudjana, the organizer's advocate, during a press conference on Monday. Eggi added that M. Sidik Sabri, a commissioner with the KPU Jakarta, had also been present during the meeting.
Al Maidah is named after a verse in the Quran that is often used by conservative Muslim political groups to urge Muslims not to vote for political leaders of other faith.
Sidik confirmed that a meeting between the commission and the pressure group had occurred last Wednesday. However, he said the organizer had only asked about the requirements that had to be fulfilled to become an observer of the runoff.
"We didn't give any permission," Sidik told The Jakarta Post. Sidik said he had yet to learn whether the organizer of Al Maidah Tour had submitted all the required documents. (kuk)