VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

PHOTO : MONITORKEADILAN

Apart from the Covid-19 pandemic, something that has received full attention of the Indonesian people is the 2020 simultaneous Regional Head Election (Pilkada 2020). The 2020 Pilkada is scheduled to be held simultaneously on December 9, 2020, in 270 cities and regencies across 9 provinces in Indonesia. Over the last few days, proposal for postponement of the Pilkada 2020 hasarisen due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The proposal to postpone the 2020 Pilkada came from various groups, such as the Governors, the largest Religious Organization in Indonesia, and the 12th Vice President Jusuf Kalla. In an interview with a TV station, Jusuf Kalla said that the implementation of the Pilkada on schedule is a choice, namely the choice of taking risks to the people or the choice of choosing a leader who could actually be postponed.

The choice has been made by the Indonesian Government. Presidential Spokesperson, Fadjroel Rachman in a media release published Monday (21/9) entitled ‘Pilkada on schedule, democratic and safe for Covid-19.’ He said that the Pilkada will be on schedule to safeguard the people's constitutional rights, the rights to be voted and the rights to vote. The 2020 Pilkada will be held with the application of strict health protocols. President Joko Widodo reaffirmed that the 2020 Pilkada will continue to be held on schedule. Because no single country knows when the Covid-19 pandemic will shake off. Thereby, the implementation of Pilkada must follow strict health protocols in order to be safe and remain democratic. The implementation of the Pilkada according to schedule also shows the international community that Indonesia is a constitutional democracy and maintains the sustainability of a democratic government system in accordance with the Pancasila ideology and the 1945 constitution.

The 2020 Pilkada must continue. What must be prepared so that it will take place according to the schedule is democratic and safe from Covid-19. On schedule and democratically, God’s willing; Indonesia is able to implement it. The fact is that success of the 2019 simultaneous general election has proven. Heavy duties and responsibilities for organizers, Pilkada participants, supporting parties, supporters and citizens are safe from Covid-19. There is a habit of Indonesian people who are always enthusiastic in every Democratic Party by getting to know the candidates who will be selected. It is undeniable that this could still occur. Obedience to maintaining health protocols is possible to ignore. This is the hard work for the 2020 Pilkada organizers, namely the General Election Commission -KPU. Hopefully, there is still enough time to prepare more appropriate methods and models in the preparation process until the Pilkada implementation. Maybe it can make proposals from many parties to carry out Pilkada by e-voting. Candidates for regional heads and their success teams must think about a more appropriate campaign method by prioritizing the health of their citizens. Of course, prospective voters must improve their awareness of implementing health protocols. Because it cannot be denied that the key success of the 2020 Pilkada which is on schedule, democratic and safe from Covid-9 is the prospective voters.

Hopefully, the Covid-19 pandemic will soon fade away and the world will come to healthy life.