Mahfud MD: Many Regional Heads Agree That The Pilkada Will Not Be Postponed

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD claimed that many regional heads agreed that the 2020 Pilkada would continue to be held on December 9 even though the COVID-19 event was still happening.

"According to our monitor, almost all of the regional heads agree. Yes, there are 1, 2 (who disagree), that's normal. But if you look at the percentage, more than 2/3 are excited to be implemented immediately," Mahfud said in his statement, Thursday, 11 June.

He is aware that the implementation of the 2020 Pilkada in the early morning period is a controversy in the community. However, this is considered something normal.

Therefore, Mahfud asked all parties to think positively about the implementation of this pilkada.

"If everyone thinks well, in my opinion, it will not lead to conflict in the end," he said.

Mahfud MD explained that the regional head election could not possibly be postponed for reasons of mid-week. Because, no one can confirm the end of this COVID-19 outbreak.

"If we wait when the corona is finished, no one knows when it will be finished," he said.

He added that the implementation of the elections on December 9 had been agreed upon by the General Election Commission (KPU) as an independent organizer, the Indonesian Parliament, and the government.

Moreover, the pilkada needs to be implemented immediately in order to ensure that regional governments can continue to work effectively.

"If it continues to postpone when it will be completed, that will be the government of all Acting (Acting). For all of them, they cannot take certain steps that are needed by the daily government," he said.

"Therefore, on 9 December, simultaneous regional elections will be held according to the mutually agreed schedule," added the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK).

Previously, the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian had explained the reasons for the government not to postpone the regional elections. According to him, the pilkada must continue despite the COVID-19 outbreak. Moreover, other countries that are running elections this year are still implementing them.

"If the speculation for next year that the Covid-19 is not necessarily finished, why is it postponed next year. If you see, all 60 countries in the world are on schedule. America, this November, will carry out bigger elections than us. All are on schedule. Germany, France, are also implementing it , "said Tito some time ago.

To launch the simultaneous regional elections, Tito ordered regional heads in 270 regions to immediately withdraw the Regional Grant Agreement (NPHD) for the 2020 Pilkada.

"Please colleagues, the proposals or NPHD that have been agreed upon will be immediately disbursed. Whatever is disbursed to the organizers of the KPU and Regional Bawaslu so that they really have breath, have the fiscal space to continue the stages planned for June 15," said Tito.

He reminded that the implementation of the regional elections and the release of the manuscripts were not complicated by transactional politics. This is because, even though it is only on a local scale, the 2020 Pilkada in 270 regions is the largest simultaneous regional election ever.

"Do not let there be transactional, political interests towards state administrators from fellow regional heads. Please, once again, politics is yes, local politics. But if it is for national interests, I think we have to share the same thoughts," he said.

The former National Police Chief said the implementation of the pending election stages would be continued on June 15. Meanwhile, the implementation of the voting was held on December 9.

Therefore, Tito asked the KPU as the election organizer to consider the duration of the campaign so that other pilkada stages could also be advanced.

This campaign time cut, he continued, could be used for socialization and updating of voters who participated in the elections.