Epidemiologist: Pilkada Can Be Postponed Until The Government Can Control COVID-19

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JAKARTA - Epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Pandu Riono suggested that the government postpone the implementation of the 2020 simultaneous regional elections.

According to Pandu, the government cannot make ignorance of when the COVID-19 pandemic will end as an excuse to avoid potential postponement of regional elections.

Because indeed, until now no one knows when the pandemic will end. In addition, Pandu assessed that the government had not completely dealt with COVID-19.

"The narrative is not when this pandemic will end. Indeed, no one knows. Why? Because the Indonesian government also seems to have no plans and targets to end it," Pandu said in a webinar discussion, Wednesday, September 30.

In fact, according to Pandu, the election can be postponed until the government manages to control the development of the COVID-19 case. No need to end it.

The meaning of a controllable pandemic means that the trend of cases has decreased, and as many as 85 percent of the population adhere to health protocols such as wearing masks and maintaining distance.

"So, the difference between a controlled pandemic and an ending pandemic. If it ends, it could take a long time, it could be 5 years. But if controlled, it means that efforts to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 are successful," said Pandu.

"For example, if the regional election is postponed until April. Then, the government can make the handling of COVID-19 in December under control. That is a target. Once it is under control, April will be resumed and conditions are safer," he continued.

He further requested that all parties, namely the General Election Commission (KPU), the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), the government, TNI and Polri, as well as all community leaders can jointly actively discipline the community in implementing health protocols.

Given, the implementation of the 2020 Pilkada cannot be postponed and must be carried out because it cannot be ascertained when the COVID-19 pandemic will end.

"Pilkada must continue and we cannot wait until the pandemic ends because we do not know, any country does not know when this pandemic will end. Therefore, the implementation of this regional election must take a new normal, a new way," he said.