Panwas told to be neutral in mayoral poll re-run

TANGERANG: Dozens of students from Pamulang University, the Open University and Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University staged a rally at the South Tangerang Supervisory Election Committee (Panwas) office on Thursday demanding neutrality in the repeat of the mayoral election.

“The first-ever mayoral election did not run smoothly because of the involvement of civil servants mobilized by candidates during the campaign,” Sohibi, one of the protesters, said.

He said the students believed there were systematic efforts by candidate Arsyid and running mate Andre Taulani to seek support from civil servants ahead of the re-run scheduled on Feb. 27.

Andre’s meeting with Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar and regency officials on Dec. 29, allegedly to seek support from civil servants and his appearance on the TV show Opera Van Java have been reported to the committee and the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission. —JP