Alert! The 2020 PIlkada Campaign With A Music Concert Has The Potential To Increase Covid-19 Transmission

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 Handling Task Force highlighted one of the campaign activities for regional head candidates in the 2020 Pilkada that has the potential to increase the number of COVID-19 transmission, namely a campaign with the type of music concert.

A campaign in the form of a music concert is allowed by the General Election Commission (KPU) because it is regulated in KPU Regulation No. 10/2020 concerning the implementation of regional elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Regarding whether music concerts and competitions are still allowed in Article 63 PKPU Number 10 of 2020. There may be mass gatherings and processions," said Deputy for System and Strategy of BNPB Wisnu Widjaja in a virtual discussion, Tuesday, September 15.

Wisnu asked the KPU to be more careful in drafting more technical regulations regarding campaign implementation.

The regulation in question is a revision of PKPU Number 4 of 2017 regarding the election campaign that is being deliberated by the KPU.

In addition, Wisnu also highlighted other allowed campaign activities in the form of public debates and general meetings. According to him, the KPU needs to pay attention to the implementation of a safe distance for everyone who participates in these activities.

"Article 59 is a matter of public debate. There are still 50 supporters present. This needs to be examined later because there will be enough people," said Wisnu.

"Then, the matter of limiting the number of supporters who attend to a maximum of 100 people and providing a guard room with a distance of at least 1 meter between participants at this general meeting also needs attention," he continued.

It is known, the 2020 Simultaneous Continuous Pilkada campaign period was carried out for 71 days with a number of stages. From September 26 to December 5, 2020, candidates for regional head are welcome to conduct limited meeting campaigns, face-to-face campaigns, disseminate campaign materials, install campaign tools, including campaign activities on social media and online.

Then, from September 26 to December 5, regional head candidates are also allowed to participate in public debates between candidate pairs.

Then from November 22 to December 5, regional head candidates may post campaign advertisements through mass, print and electronic media.

During the pandemic, the KPU still allowed campaign activities with physical gatherings. This is regulated in Article 63 PKPU Number 10 of 2020. The following reads the regulation

Article 63 (1) Other activities that do not violate the Campaign prohibition and the provisions of laws and regulations as referred to in Article 57 letter g can be carried out in the form of: a. general meeting; b. cultural activities in the form of performing arts, big harvest, and / or music concerts; c. sports activities in the form of leisurely walks, and / or relaxing bicycles; d. competition; e. social activities in the form of a bazaar and / or blood donation; f. Political Party birthdays; and / or g. through Social Media.