Kominfo Ensures Digital Space Is Maintained Safe During The 2020 Pilkada

Menkominfo Johnny G Plate (doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Communication and Information, Johnny G. Plate, said that he is committed to maintaining a healthy and clean digital space in the 2020 Regional Head Elections (Pilkada). This was stated in the Action Agreement Memorandum (NKA) with the General Election Supervisory Agency and the General Election Commission.

"I certainly welcome with a very happy heart that the ministries and institutions related to the implementation of the 2020 Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) are supported by their ecosystems that have a commitment, even poured out in writing through a memorandum of understanding of action for the implementation of the 2020 Pilkada to take place successfully, including success. to maintain a healthy digital space, "said Johnny, quoted from a written statement, Sunday, August 30.

According to Johnny, the accelerated digital transformation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has also had an impact on the political aspect. In particular the 2020 Pilkada, in which informatics and telecommunications play a vital and significant role to support the success of the democratic party in terms of determining leaders in regions, governors, regents and mayors in 270 provinces, districts and cities on 9 December 2020.

Johnny emphasized that the nation's intelligence and ability determine the quality of democracy. This, according to him, will be more visible if you use information and communication technology intelligently, including the downstream aspects of telecommunications and information technology, namely digital space or internet content.

"If we look at the sequence, the first line of prevention or the first line to maintain a healthy and clean digital space lies with the election organizers and law enforcement," he said.

The first line of prevention, in this case the election management and law enforcement, is likened to a dam. When the dam is well maintained, the rice fields will be well flowed to produce plants and can harvest well and successfully.

However, he continued, if the embankment burst, the floodwaters would flow and destroy the rice fields, and would experience difficulties that would lead to crop failure.

Therefore, the Minister of Communication and Information hopes that the election organizers, law enforcement and the main participants of the Pilkada can keep the "dam" from breaking. According to him, the Ministry of Communication and Information is in the "rice fields" so that it can distribute water evenly to flow the rice fields.

"If the digital space is filled with hoaxes, disinformation and hate speech, of course the digital space will become dirty. On the other hand, if the dam flood or disinformation flows through the fields and the fields are only equipped with bites, then it would be difficult to clean the fields that have already been used. filled with flood water due to the breakdown of the dam, "said Johnny.

Collaboration between Bawaslu and KPU

Collaboration together with Bawaslu and KPU to accommodate all digital spaces in terms of monitoring and implementing healthy Pilkada. "In order to be jointly successful in the circulation of democracy in order to elect regional executives through the 2020 Pilkada, which is the starting point for regional development."

Quoting President Joko Widodo's direction regarding the momentum of accelerating digital transformation, Minister Johnny invited all parties to take a leap in realizing quality democracy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In the democratic and political sector, Pilkada is one of the moments that we can use by optimally and maximally and intelligently using the digital space to make a leap in the quality of democracy in Indonesia," he said.

Illustration (Photo: Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

According to him, the momentum will be realized and successful if ecosystem collaboration in the political sector can be carried out together through community involvement and participation. In Pilkada, according to him, intelligence is needed to take advantage of the digital space for Pilkada participants and constituents of voters.

"Competition is necessary, contestation of ideas is necessary, but verbal and written hostility through digital space is not a characteristic and distinctive feature of Indonesia, not a hallmark of Indonesian democracy. This time we are faced with a challenge where our collaboration will contribute to improving the results of regional elections and the quality of Indonesian democracy. , "said Johnny.

Johnny added, the 2020 Pilkada which took place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic was the first trial in the journey of democracy. With the readiness and seriousness of all related elements, Minister Johnny believes that the 2020 Pilkada will be successful, especially in utilizing ICT.

"The success of the 2020 Pilkada by utilizing information and communication technology, especially digital space will determine the quality of our democracy in the next circulation of democracy, including our important democracy circulation during the presidential and legislative elections in 2024," said Johnny.