President's Son Participates In The Presidential Election, Coordinating Minister For Political, Legal And Security Affairs Guarantees Neutral Government Officials

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD (ANTARA)

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD gave a response regarding President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) son Gibran Rakabuming Raka who participated in the 2024 Presidential Election contestation (Pilpres).

Some consider that by participating in Gibran as a vice presidential candidate paired with Prabowo Subianto, government instruments will be involved in the presidential election in February.

"The TNI Commander has guaranteed, the National Police Chief has guaranteed. What is clear is that Mas Gibran's participation as the vice presidential candidate pair is legally legal, it has been completed," said Mahfud MD at the Sahid Hotel, Wednesday, November 8.

Mahfud also invited the public to welcome and hold the 2024 General Election with optimism without any doubt through the democratic party. So that election fraud can be avoided.

"The most important thing was the president's directive which made us optimistic. There can't be one control for election fraud. Because there are only 840 thousand polling stations. How can you control fraud? Meanwhile, supervision and observers can go directly to the polling station to make reports if there is fraud," said Mahfud.

He said Mahfud also emphasized that the state civil apparatus (ASN), TNI, and Polri must be neutral and that it has been stated by all institutions and ministries.

"Both by the police chief and the police chief have sent a telegram letter that the police must be professional and must not take sides. The TNI Commander has also said soldiers must be neutral because whoever is elected we must unite again," added Mahfud.

Senior researcher from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Siti Zuhro said that competition in the 2024 Election contestation must be balanced by not involving state facilities and state officials in supporting certain parties.

"You can't use state facilities, the authorities you have to support. You can't because it makes competitions unbalanced. The one is supported, the other is not supported, that will lead to public misunderstandings and suspicions," said Siti.

Siti said that public distrust can cause collective disappointment. This collective disappointment will be the cause of the riots.

The key to peaceful elections, according to Siti, lies in the election which has integrity and quality. Therefore, the 2024 election contestation must be filled with a free and fair stage.