Politician Demands Heavy Sanctions for Election Official in Helicopter Misuse Case

A member of the Indonesian House of Representatives' Commission II, Indrajaya, has called for strict sanctions against an election official implicated in the misuse of a General Election Commission (KPU) helicopter. The helicopter was reportedly used by KPU commissioners to attend the inauguration of election organizers in Cianjur, West Java, shortly before the 2024 elections.

The case is currently under examination by the Election Organizer Ethics Council (DKPP). Indrajaya specifically highlighted the involvement of DKPP member Tio Aliansyah in the helicopter trip, stating that if ethical violations are proven, he should face heavier sanctions than other organizers. Indrajaya, a politician from the National Awakening Party (PKB), expressed regret over the use of the KPU helicopter for a trip accessible by land.

He argued that the issue extends beyond administrative or legal aspects of budget use, emphasizing the dimensions of propriety and public ethics that should be paramount for all state officials. Indrajaya asserted that leaders of ethical bodies should serve as role models, not merely interpreters of rules. He found the use of a helicopter for a destination reachable by land to be a serious matter of appropriateness.

"What is most regrettable is the statement in the trial that one of the helicopter passengers was a member of the DKPP RI. This raises a serious irony because the DKPP is the institution tasked with upholding the code of ethics for election organizers," Indrajaya stated. He hopes this case will serve as a catalyst for evaluating the management of official travel within the KPU, Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Agency), and DKPP to ensure alignment with principles of efficiency, accountability, and public interest. He concluded, "The integrity of election organizers is built not only through decisions but also through exemplary conduct in every action."