Honor Causes Residents Aren't Registering To Become Panwascam

Illustration of voting for the 2019 General Election at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia on April 14, 2019. (ANTARA).

KEPRI - Head of the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) of the Riau Islands Province (Kepri) Said Abdullah Dahlawi said that the low interest of citizens to register to become the Sub-district Supervisory Committee (Panwascam) for the General Election (Pemilu) could be triggered by a number of things.

One of the most common is honorarium. In the 2019 Election and the previous Pilkada, the honorarium received by Panwascam members was Rp. 1.6 million per month, while the Chair of the Panwascam was Rp. 1.8 million.

"We are paying close attention to this, and want to invite all parties to participate in the democratic party without looking at the amount of honorarium as a measure of being an election supervisor at the sub-district and sub-district levels," said Said in Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands, quoted from Antara, Thursday, August 25.

Said explained that in islands such as the Anambas and Natuna Islands, the monthly income of the residents is much higher than the salary received as a member of the Panwascam. The cost of living on the islands is also relatively higher than in other areas in the Riau Islands.

This is what makes it sometimes difficult to get members of the Panwascam.

Said revealed that the determination of the honorarium for the Panwascam and other election organizers was ad hoc in accordance with the capacity of the state budget. The Panwascam honorarium is determined by the Ministry of Finance.

"There is a possibility that the Panwascam's honorarium will increase in the 2024 election," he said.

However, Said said the public can still participate in the 2024 elections for the success of the five-year democratic party. He said the public could oversee the implementation of the 2024 election stages according to their capacity.

Because according to him, elections are a means of democracy to produce leaders who are expected to be able to improve people's welfare and advance the region.

"Therefore, elections and local elections must be guarded. Panwascam has a strategic role in overseeing the democratic party," he added.

Panwascam Member Selection

Selection Panwascam acceptance is open to the public. However, only those who meet the criteria or requirements will be accepted.

Currently, said Sid, Bawasl is still drafting technical regulations related to ad hoc election organizers, one of which is Panwascam. It is possible that starting September 2022, the acceptance of Panwascam members has been opened.

"October 2022, all members of the Panwascam must work to oversee the factual verification of election participant requirements and updating voter data," said Said.

Said conveyed that the tenure of Panwascam members could be up to 2025 because they were involved in supervising the 2024 General Election and Regional Head Elections.

"It is possible that the working period of Panwascam will not end after the February 2024 election, but will be added to the end of the November 2024 regional election stage. So the potential for their working period will end after all stages of the regional elections are completed until early 2025," he said.

In Riau Islands, there are 76 sub-districts spread across Batam City, Tanjungpinang, Bintan Regency, Lingga Regency, Karimun Regency, Anambas Islands Regency and Natuna Regency. People can register to become Panwascam in these areas.