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Suryadharma ignores Bawaslu summons
Religious Affairs Minister and United Development Party (PPP) chairman Suryadharma Ali has failed to attend the Banten office of the General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) to answer questions relating to allegations of violating campaign rules
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eligious Affairs Minister and UnitedDevelopment Party (PPP) chairman Suryadharma Ali has failed to attend the Banten office of the General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) to answer questions relating to allegations of violating campaign rules.
Suryadharma is suspected of having used state facilities for his party's interests and campaigning in a mosque when attending an event held by the Islamic Dakwah Indonesia Institution (LDII) in Banten on Tuesday.
Besides summoning Suryadharma, Bawaslu had also summoned his daughter, Kartika Yudhisti, who is a legislative candidate, and Muhammad Mardiono, chairman of the PPP's Banten chapter, over the same allegations.
Commenting on Suryadharma's absence, Mardiono said Suryadharma could not attend Bawaslu's invitation due to state affairs. He said Suryadharma had also sent the agency a clarification that the allegation he had used a mosque for campaigning was merely a misunderstanding.
Mardiono said the mosque was used merely because there was no other place near the venue that could accommodate LDII members, most of whom are PPP supporters. He added that the chairman had also denied that he had used any state facilities for the party's interests.
Banten Bawaslu head Pramono U Thantowi said that despite the clarification, Bawaslu insisted on speaking with Suryadharma in person and, therefore, a second summons would be sent to him.(ind/dic)
