The COVID-19 Task Force Recommends Pilkada In The Pagebluk Period, But There Are Conditions

Chairman of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19 Doni Monardo (Photo: Public Relations of BNPB)

JAKARTA - Chairperson of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19 Doni Monardo recommended the implementation of the 2020 Pilkada even though the COVID-19 event was still happening.

However, he reminded election organizers to pay attention to health protocols and to conduct studies so that there is no transmission of COVID-19.

"The Task Force has recommended the holding of regional elections but with a special note, that it must comply with health protocols and all activities carried out must be based on a study starting with preconditions for all the regions involved," said Doni in a hearing (RDP) with Commission II of the Indonesian Parliament. , Thursday, June 11.

This preconditioned activity, continued Doni, had to involve all parties, including the community at the bottom of the hierarchy, namely RT and RW.

On the other hand, he reminded, during the pilkada process, it was not allowed to hold meetings that involved many people. Even if forced, these meetings must be closely monitored.

So far, of the 270 regions that will carry out the elections, zoning has not been divided based on the level of risk of COVID-19 transmission. According to him, election organizers need to know the details of the zoning in order to make more preparations.

"As of today, there are 261 districts / cities that will participate in the 2020 Pilkada, consisting of 43 unaffected areas, 72 low risk areas, 99 medium risk areas, and 40 high risk areas. Meanwhile, for provinces there are 9 regions," he explained. Doni.

Doni reminded that this figure could grow until the local elections on December 9th. Thus, it is important for pilkada organizers to keep abreast of zoning developments stipulated by the Task Force.

"It could be that the red one at the end or before the election will turn yellow, for example. But also the opposite, the yellow one can turn orange or turn red," he said.

"This will continue to be reported every Monday by the expert team. These data are accumulated data from each district / city," he added.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD claimed that many regional heads agreed that the 2020 Pilkada would still 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).