Bawaslu guarantees voting rights for border residents

Delapan parpol penuhi ambang batas parlemen, PDIP suara terbanyak
Ambo Daeng Mannappi greets from his house which is located around the RI-Malaysia Border Marker PB-02 in Aji Kuning Village, Central Sebatik, North Kalimantan, Saturday (17/8/2024) ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi.
The Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) guarantees voting rights for all Indonesian citizens in the Indonesia-Malaysia border region, including in national and regional elections.

Lolly Suhenty, a Bawaslu member, confirmed this guarantee while visiting the PB-02 boundary marker in Aji Kuning Village, Nunukan District, North Kalimantan.

She stressed the importance of data matching to verify citizenship and voting eligibility for residents, including those living partially in Malaysia.

Suhenty conducted data checks in Aji Kuning Village, even examining homes partly located in Malaysia. She confirmed that legal residents have the right to vote.

"What is obvious is that if the data matching and examination unveils their legality and eligibility, they are absolutely Indonesian citizens who have rights to vote," she said.

Several houses in Aji Kuning Village have backyards in Malaysia, including one home entirely within Malaysian territory.

Its owner, Ambo Daeng Mannappi, a 57-year-old Indonesian citizen, confirmed his voting rights and expressed gratitude for Bawaslu's attention.

Mannappi said he lives with his wife and their only one child but they are all Indonesian citizens who are eligible to cast their ballots in the Indonesian elections.

"I am used to going to a polling station near here," he said.

Sebatik Island is divided between Indonesia and Malaysia, with the southern part belonging to North Kalimantan and the northern part to Sabah.
 
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Reporter: R013
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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