Standardization of Data in Sipol Is Important to Guarantee Fairness for Political Parties

An election activist from Kemitraan, Wahidah Suaib Wittoeng, explains the result of his research on political party data in the Political Party Information System (Sipol). The result of the research is that there is no standardized mechanism and procedure in inputting party’s data into Sipol. For example, some political parties only include the top tier managers of their organization when detailing the data on their membership, while some others include all members.

According to Wahidah, the lack of standard mechanism and procedure will result in unfairness for political parties. This is because the government has implemented the 30 percent minimal quota for female members that must be obliged by all parties, which can only be measured by the data submitted to Sipol.

“I’ve found cases where a political party claims a 65 percent of female membership. But, after investigation, they only have 1 female members for every two male members. It’s probable that they include female secretary and treasury staffs,” says Wahidah (10/24).

Many people expected the Elections Commission (KPU) to focus on the substance of the gender quota regulation as detailed in Laws No.7/2017. The regulation was implemented to facilitate political parties to fulfill the 30 percent minimum representation of women in legislative elections as mandated in the Elections Law, and to increase women participation in election process.

“Let’s not focus only on the procedure, but not on the substance of the regulation,” says Wahidah.