Kuala Lumpur – The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Malaysia Hermono responded to allegations of fraud and intelligence involvement in the implementation of the 2024 elections in Kuala Lumpur. Hermono said that the Overseas Election Committee (PPLN) could not be intervened in.
“The accusation in the one minute and nine second video which states that there was intelligence intervention in the determination of the Kuala Lumpur Permanent Overseas Voter List (DPTLN) is a baseless statement,” said Hermono.
The Indonesian Ambassador stated that the Indonesian government was very concerned about the election process taking place abroad, including in Kuala Lumpur. They emphasized that the election process was carried out in accordance with democratic principles and applicable regulations.
The Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia explained that the presence of diplomatic and consular missions abroad, including in Kuala Lumpur, was to provide consular services to Indonesian citizens who were there. They emphasized that there was no intelligence involvement in the election process, and accusations to the contrary were untrue and irresponsible.
The chairman of PPLN Malaysia also firmly denied the involvement of members of BIN and Hermanto who were accused of intervening in PPLN and Panwaslu KL in the election process.
The Indonesian government, through its Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur, also appealed to the public not to easily believe information whose source is unclear or whose truth is not verified. They stressed the importance of supporting the democratic process in a responsible and civilized manner.
In this context, the Indonesian Ambassador’s rebuttal is important to maintain the integrity of the election process and avoid the spread of incorrect information that could influence public opinion. In an era where information can easily be spread through various social media platforms, it is important for the government and society to be vigilant about unverified information.
Apart from that, the Indonesian Ambassador’s rebuttal also underscored the importance of maintaining bilateral relations between Indonesia and the host country, in this case Malaysia. Unfounded accusations against the government or state institutions can damage bilateral relations and affect cooperation between countries.