KPUD member targeted over disputed ballot

The attack targeting Pekanbaru General Elections Commission (KPUD) member Makmur Hendrik is believed to be linked to a controversial announcement of municipal election results.

His house on Jl. Kandis, Tangkerang Utara subdistrict, Bukit Raya district, Pekanbaru, was set on fire at around 4 a.m. on Tuesday.

The two-story house was not totally gutted as the occupants, assisted by neighbors, were able to douse the fire after around 10 minutes. However, Makmur’s car, parked in front of the house, failed to survive the blaze.

The political tensions in Pekanbaru ignited following the KPUD’s decision to annul the Firdaus — Ayat Cahyadi victory in the municipal elections, which had to be rerun over allegations of previous irregularities.

The pair won the ballot on May 8, 2011, but the election was forced into a second round after rival Septina Primawati, who is the wife of the Riau governor, challenged the results. Septina ran with Erizal Muluk in the election.

Firdaus — Ayat appeared to emerge as the electoral winners, but a day after the commission confirmed victory, it reversed its initial decision and announced that Firdaus’s nomination had an administrative defect.

The commission’s decision on the election’s result is believed to have triggered conflicts.

On Jan. 6, unidentified persons fired shots at the bedroom of Muhammad Royan, coalition team leader of the Septina — Erizal campaign.

While the fire burned at Makmur’s home on Tuesday, a number of residents in the neighborhood said they heard a blast before the blaze got bigger.

“I had just finished performing the tahajud prayer and was waiting for the subuh dawn prayer when suddenly an explosion startled me,” Agusniati, 73, said.

Agusniati’s husband, Ibrahim, who is the neighborhood chief, thought other residents also heard the blast from a burning car tire that exploded. “None of us saw the perpetrators,” he said.

Erik and Makmur’s son-in-law Riki woke up after hearing the commotion in front of their home.

“When we came out, the fire had already burned the front part of the car. It remains unclear whether the fire was caused by molotov cocktails or set by arsonists. We will hand over the case to police,” said Riki.

Erik and Riki sustained burns on Tuesday and were later questioned by the Pekanbaru City Police.

Makmur’s wife, Yurni Hatta, was reportedly shocked by the incident. Her husband was in Jakarta with all the other Pekanbaru KPU commissioners preparing for the trial of an election dispute at the Constitutional Court.

Pekanbaru Police chief Sn. Comr. Adang Ginanjar said the police were still investigating motives behind the
attack.

He suspected there were more than two perpetrators involved, based on findings from the scene.

He said the perpetrators broke into the backyard by climbing the fence. They poured kerosene and diesel near the windows and set them on fire.

“From there, the fire started,” he said.