Sampang Ulama Give Moril Support To The Police Forming Peaceful Pilkada

SAMPANG - A clerical figure from a number of Islamic boarding schools in Sampang Regency, East Java provided moral support to the police so that they could be tasked with securing the 2024 simultaneous regional elections firmly, and impartially, thus creating a peaceful and satisfying democratic party for all parties.

"The scholars in Sampang Regency are also ready to help in trying to realize the conducive regional elections in Sampang," said Sampang cleric spokesman KH Miftahul Ulum in Sampang, East Java, Saturday.

"Kai Miftah" who is also the Chairman of the Fatwa Commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) further said that his party had directly conveyed the call to the Sampang Police Headquarters on October 10, 2024.

At that time, dozens of scholars together with representatives of boarding school caregivers in Sampang Regency came to the Sampang Police Headquarters.

In addition to expressing moral support to the police, this ulama representative also asked the police to be neutral and not side with one of the candidates who will compete for public support in the regional elections to be held on November 27, 2024.

"We immediately conveyed the pressure on the neutrality of the police and other security forces at that time, because we were worried that if the side officers would trigger an unfavorable situation," he said.

Moreover, continued Kiai Miftah, Sampang Regency is known as a district on Madura Island and East Java, generally as a district with a very vulnerable status.

"We don't want incidents like confiscation of ballot boxes, or burning TPS to happen again in this district," he said.

Responding to the request of the cleric and representatives of the caretaker of the Islamic boarding school, Sampang Police Chief AKBP Hendro Sukmono stated that the police are public servants who are tasked with protecting and protecting all groups of interests.

"The neutrality of officers is a must. If it is known that there are officers who take sides, then we will take firm action," said the police chief.

He also expressed his gratitude for the support of scholars in Sampang Regency in contributing to creating a safe and conducive situation.

"With the support of the ulama, the public is expected to be increasingly aware of the importance of maintaining unity, avoiding conflicts and ensuring that the Pilkada can run smoothly without interruption," he said.

The police chief also ensured that his party would not only focus on taking action against regional election security violations, but other law enforcement that could potentially cause unrest and division.

Meanwhile, the Sampang KPU has announced a final voter list (DPT) for the 2024 Pilkada which recorded 737,832 voters, with details of 369,301 men and 378,248 women.

The 2024 regional elections in Sampang Regency were followed by two pairs of candidates, namely KH Muhammad Bin Muafi Zaini - Abdullah Hidayat (Mandat) with serial numbers 1 and Slamet Junaidi-Ahmad Mahfud (Jimad Saktah) number 2.

The Mandate pair were promoted by eight political parties, namely the Golkar Party, PPP, PAN, PDIP, Democrats, PBB, PSI, and the Hanura Party. Meanwhile, the Jimad Saktah pair was promoted by six political parties, namely the Nasdem Party, Gerindra, PKB, Gelora, PKS, and Garuda Party.