Stefani Wijaya, Jakarta – The National Police said Thursday they have brought criminal charges against seven election officials who are alleged to have tampered with voters' data when organizing the poll for Indonesian nationals in Kuala Lumpur.
The incident left the majority of around 491,000 registered voters in the Malaysian capital unable to cast votes because the absentee ballots failed to reach them.
It also prompted the General Election Commission (KPU) to arrange a redo election scheduled for March 9-10 following protests from the election watchdog and Indonesians living in Malaysia.
"We have six days left to complete the dossiers because the investigation into election crimes must be concluded in 14 days according to the law," said Brig. Gen. Djuhandhani Rahardjo Puro, director of the general crime unit in the police headquarters.
Djuhandhani said the suspects have allegedly altered the total number of registered voters in Kuala Lumpur and inserted different data from the previous registered voters' list certified by the KPU. The identities of the suspects have not been disclosed.
KPU Chairman Hasyim Asy'ari said on Tuesday the redo election in Kuala Lumpur will not use the mail voting system to avoid another mishap.
"The upcoming redo election will employ static polling stations and mobile ballot drop boxes," Hasyim said at his office in Jakarta. "The ballot drop boxes will be distributed on Saturday, March 9, and the static polling stations will be opened on Sunday, March 10," he added.
The vote count in Kuala Lumpur is scheduled for March 12, eight days before the overall tally of the presidential and legislative elections is set to be certified.