VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin asked the Indonesian Police to guarantee the security of the 2020 regional election (Pilkada) and violations of the COVID-19 health protocol must go hand in hand.

When delivering material at the 29th National Police for Regular Education School of Staff and Leadership Seminar 2020 virtually from the vice president's official residence in Jakarta, Friday, Ma'ruf Amin said that the COVID-19 pandemic presents its own challenges for the Police to carry out security duties.

"On the one hand, we need to concentrate on handling COVID-19 and it must ensure security against the ongoing election process. For that, it is necessary to expect and prepare well," Ma'ruf Amin said in Jakarta, Friday.

In normal situations, we cannot doubt the ability of the National Police in overseeing the implementation of a democratic party, both in the 2019 Presidential Election and the 2018 Simultaneous Pilkada, he said.

However, a pandemic situation requires extra work for the police in carrying out their duties. Ma'ruf also asked the National Police to maintain neutrality as a state apparatus, especially when handling potential or cases of violations during the 2020 simultaneous regional elections.

"The National Police continues to maintain neutrality as a state apparatus regarding potential violations such as hoaxes and black campaigns, money politics, mass mobilization and activities that have the potential to violate health protocols during the pandemic," he said.

The Vice President also expressed his appreciation to the leadership and all levels of the National Police for maintaining and reminding the public to comply with health protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic forces all communities to adjust to a new order that adheres to health protocols, to produce optimal performance. Implementing the new order requires guarding on all fronts, so that the entire community obeys, said Ma'ruf.

"Because as long as preventive vaccines and curative drugs are not yet available, adherence to implementing health protocols is the only most effective way (to) prevent transmission of the COVID-19 virus," he said. (Antaranews)