Megawati Aja Rakyat Chooses The Best Regional Leader, Reminds The TNI/Polri Must Be Neutral

The Fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri when delivering her speech through a video broadcast at the PDIP DPP office, Jakarta, Wednesday (20/11/2024). (ANTARA/Narda Margaretha Sinambela)

JAKARTA - The Fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri invites voters to choose the best leader in the simultaneous regional elections which will be held on November 27, 2024.

This was conveyed by Megawati through a video that was played at the PDIP DPP office, Jakarta.

Megawati said that the regional elections must be a momentum to choose the best leader, qualified with a good and responsible track record of achievements for the nation's future.

Megawati also reminded that in the constitution, every citizen has the same rights in the eyes of the law. Therefore, Indonesian citizens who have the same rights.

"Use the right to vote independently, freely, and sovereignly," Megawati said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, November 20.

The daughter of the proclaimer of the Republic of Indonesia, Bung Karno, then reminded that no force should be able to hinder people's freedom to vote.

"To all state apparatus, acting regional heads, TNI/Polri, state civil servants, sub-district heads, and village heads, I call on them as people who have the same right to be neutral and must not take sides," he said.

Megawati reviewed that the Constitutional Court (MK) had made an important decision that non-neutral state officials could be subject to criminal sanctions.

"That is the meaning of the Constitutional Court Decree number 136 / PUU-XXII / 2024 through the Revision of Article 188 of Law Number 1 of 2018," said Megawati.

"Mother will show that this has evidence, to be read by all Indonesian people," continued Megawati while showing the news about the Constitutional Court's decision.

The Constitutional Court's decision reads, "Every state official, regional official, ASN official, TNI-Polri member, and village head or other designation/lurah who deliberately violates the provisions as referred to in Article 71, shall be punished with imprisonment for a minimum of one month or a maximum of six months and/or a fine of at least Rp. 600,000.00 or a maximum of Rp. 6,000,000.00".

"With this legal basis, to all Indonesian people there is no need to hesitate and be afraid in facing various intimidation. Anyone who intends to cheat, and is not democratic, will face the power of the people," concluded Megawati.