Realizing a Healthy and United Democracy Through the 2024 Regional Elections Free from SARA
By: Arafah Putri Kusuma )*
Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) in Indonesia are always an important moment that determines the direction of development and leadership in a region. However, a major challenge that often hinders the quality of democracy is the emergence of issues of Tribe, Religion, Race, and Inter-Group (SARA) in politics. This has the potential to divide unity and damage the integrity of the Pilkada itself. Therefore, it is important to prioritize the principle of Pilkada without SARA in order to create a healthy and united democracy.
These SARA issues are often used by certain parties as a negative campaign tool to gain support in an unhealthy way. SARA issues have been proven to worsen local political dynamics in many regions, especially in regions with diverse ethnicities, religions, or races. Instead of focusing on ideas, programs, and visions and missions that provide solutions to regional problems, political contestants often get caught up in divisive identity narratives.
The wife of the fourth President of the Republic of Indonesia, Abdurrahman Wahid, Sinta Nuriyah, emphasized the importance of holding honest, fair, and peaceful regional elections. In her view, regional elections must take place without intimidation or pressure from any party, so that the public can freely choose candidate pairs based on their own conscience. Sinta wants every citizen to have an equal opportunity to assess their prospective leaders without any negative influence that could damage the democratic process. Through this principle, Sinta hopes that the public can choose wisely and accurately for a better future.
In line with these expectations, Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta, Heru Budi Hartono, ensured that the 2024 Pilkada in Jakarta will run smoothly and peacefully. Heru expressed his belief that Jakarta residents, who are an educated group, will actively participate in this democratic process. He explained that the stages of the Pilkada so far have been running smoothly, and the three candidate pairs have declared a peaceful Pilkada together with the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU). Heru said that so far, the Pilkada has been running well and the community is quite educated, so he feels that everyone is safe ahead of the election.
On the other hand, the Acting Governor of West Java, Bey Machmudin, conveyed the importance of integrity in the implementation of the Pilkada. Bey attended the Declaration of the Integrity Campaign with the theme Reugreug Pageuh, Repeh Rapih in the City of Bandung, which is expected to be a strategic step to ensure that the implementation of the 2024 West Java Pilkada campaign is honest, fair, and ethical. In his statement, Bey emphasized that the 2024 Regional Head Election is an important momentum for the future of West Java. This declaration of an integrity campaign is a strategic step to ensure that the campaign runs honestly, fairly, and ethically. This emphasizes that all parties, starting from the West Java KPU, West Java Bawaslu, candidate pairs, winning teams, to the community, must commit to maintaining integrity during the campaign process.
Bey Machmudin also reminded that in carrying out the 2024 Pilkada campaign, the challenges faced are very diverse, such as the practice of money politics, politicization of SARA, hoaxes, and hate speech that can damage unity and diversity. He invited the public to reject these practices. Bey invited the public to reject money politics and politicization of SARA, emphasizing that the Pilkada should be a place for exchanging ideas, not a place for division. He also emphasized the importance of fighting hoaxes and hate speech and ensuring that the information disseminated is true and accurate.
Bey believes that with a strong commitment from all parties, the 2024 West Java Pilkada can run peacefully and with integrity. This declaration is a moral commitment to realizing a peaceful and integrity-based Pilkada. Bey also invited the public to show that West Java is capable of being an example of a healthy democracy, emphasizing his hopes for positive results from the synergy that is established.
Through initiatives from community leaders and public officials, the hope of holding Pilkada free from SARA politics is growing stronger. In this case, it is important for the community to understand that diversity of tribes, religions, and races is a valuable asset that can enrich social life, not become a tool for division. Active community involvement in maintaining the integrity of the Pilkada is very important.
The declaration by leaders and community figures shows that it is time for Indonesia to make Pilkada a momentum to build unity and togetherness. By prioritizing integrity and avoiding unethical practices, it is hoped that Pilkada can function well as a means for people’s aspirations to elect leaders who are trustworthy and reliable.
It is hoped that with the spirit of Pilkada without SARA, Indonesia will show the world that a healthy and united democracy is possible. Through a fair and transparent election process, the people can cast their votes without fear or detrimental influence, thus producing leaders who are truly committed to building the nation. With this hope, all parties are expected to contribute to creating a better democracy for a brighter future for the Indonesian nation.
)* contributor to the Indonesian Reading Window
