Adhere to Health Protocols One of the Keys to Successful Pilkada

Regional head elections (Pilkada) in 2020 which are certain to be held simultaneously in 270 regions on December 9 2020 have received responses from various parties. This is because the agenda for the democratic party was held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of them is the Chairman of the IMM Alumni Family Forum, Armyn Gultom. He said that in the 2020 Pilkada there must be stricter rules for health protocol violators. This was emphasized so as not to create a new COVID-19 cluster.

"The large number of regions that carry out regional elections will create a crowd, which can lead to a new cluster of COVID-19," said Armyn in an online discussion organized by the Indonesian Youth Caucus (KMI) with the theme "Creating Healthy Pilkada, Strong People".

In addition, Armyn also considered that the commitment of the candidate for regional head was important to provide protection to the community by implementing strict health protocols.

"The principles of health protocols that have been agreed upon must become a shared commitment. Vigilance is very, very important in the simultaneous regional elections this time, "he said.

On the other hand, he also views that the 2020 Pilkada can be a means of proving himself that regional heads who participate in electoral political contestation are leaders who only win in elections, but are able to become leaders who protect and protect their people.

"For me, healthy elections are not only physical health but also produce good and wise leaders. "There is not enough ambition to be a leader but a leader who provides welfare, intelligence and health is needed to the community," he said.

On the same occasion, Deputy Chairperson of the Central Executive Board Jamiyyah Expert Thoriqoh Muktabaroh Indonesia (DPP JATMI) KH. Mukhlas Syarkun, said that in several studies it was stated that the pilkada had many disadvantages. Especially in the current situation, the elections are faced with the quality of the voters themselves which need further education.

"The economic recession also causes unhealthy regional elections because it will trigger money politics, so there needs to be hard work from stakeholders," said Kia Mukhlas.

Therefore, he hopes that the younger generation like KMI will be able to go to the field to provide enlightenment and good education to the wider community.

"I propose one solution, namely the strength of civil society to save our democratic condition. I urge youths like KMI to take part in educating the public to ensure that the democratic process is truly healthy and provides benefits to society, "he said.

Still on the same occasion, the former Chairman of the Board of the Islamic Student Association (PB HMI), Respiratori Saddam Aljihad, believes that the simultaneous regional elections will be successful even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He hopes that the public does not have to worry as long as the regional elections are carried out by implementing strict health protocols, because this is a collective effort to bring together new and better regional leaders and to hold back the potential for the emergence of a new COVID-19 cluster.

"I have faith that the simultaneous regional elections will comply with health protocols. The most important thing is that we need to monitor health protocols when the simultaneous regional elections are held, "he said.