Bayu Marhaenjati, Jakarta – A legal pressure group said on Friday that it had made a police complaint against four polling organizations on the grounds they had subverted data to show Prabowo Subianto ahead in the July 9 presidential election.

"We met Jakarta Police as a follow up to our report – to clarify what we've reported," chairman of Jakarta Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI Jakarta) Poltak Agustinus Sinaga said on Friday, adding that two of PBHI members had been questioned as witnesses. Jakarta Police were not immediately available for comment.

Poltak said that he expected the police to investigate the reports of data manipulation by the Center for Policy Studies and Strategic Development (Puskaptis), National Survey Institute (LSN), Indonesia Research Center (IRC) and Indonesian Survey Network (JSI).

"This is an opportunity for police to win public trust by investigating this to its root," Poltak said. "People deserve to receive accurate information."

Not long after the polling stations closed on Jul. 9 election, four polling bodies released quick count results, which showed Prabowo Subianto fractionally ahead. Their quick count results were markedly different to seven pollsters that showed Joko Widodo ahead by around 6 percentage points.

The official tally released by the General Election Commission (KPU) later showed Joko Widodo had won the election by 53.15 percent to 46.85 percent.

Poltak said he had submitted evidence to police and wanted the agencies investigated under the 2008 Law on Public Information and a 2008 Law on Electronic Information.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/police-complaint-made-pro-prabowo-pollsters/