Jakarta – Welcoming the implementation of the 2024 simultaneous Regional Head Elections (Pilkada), youth and students are calling on all elements of society to jointly maintain the security and integrity of the 2024 Pilkada.
The Islamic Students Association (HMI) Tembilahan Branch, Riau Province, held a youth dialogue with the theme The Role of Youth in Realizing Peaceful, Fair and Civilized Regional Elections Towards a Dignified Inhil.
In his speech, the General Chairperson of HMI Tembilahan Branch, Muhammad Yusuf said that youth dialogue activities are a reflection for young people to contribute to national development.
“We are once again treading the footsteps of the struggle of youth from all over the archipelago who gathered with the spirit of Unity to build the nation. Through youth dialogue and in order to welcome the Peaceful Pilkada, we intend this spirit of unity to always be a reflection on every youth to build their region or the nation at large,” said Muhammad Yusuf.
The dialogue also featured the General Chairperson of HMI Badko Riau-Kepri, Wiriyanto Azwir, who said that ahead of the 2024 Pilkada, the challenges facing youth are very complex.
“Ahead of the 2024 Pilkada, our challenges today in the era of digitalization and globalization are very complex. And even today we are faced with the sophistication of Artificial Intelligence (AI). So the capital of today’s youth is to call for a peaceful Pilkada without provocation or hate speech,” said Wiriyanto.
Elsewhere, the President of the Student Council (DEMA) of the State Islamic University (UIN) Alauddin Makassar, Fadil Musaffar, said that every party must be responsible for overseeing the Simultaneous Regional Elections so that they run peacefully. He also appealed to students to prioritize their conscience in choosing leaders.
“(The appeal) for students or young voters is to continue to prioritize conscience (in choosing a leader),” said Fadil.
He hopes that the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections can run smoothly and peacefully. Fadil also said that whoever is elected later is the best and deserves to be appreciated.
“Keep prioritizing unity and whoever is elected as regional head is the best and deserves our appreciation in the future,” he said.
A peaceful and integrity-based regional election is the key to creating trustworthy leaders who are able to develop the region in a better direction. This call can raise the awareness of all parties to continue to prioritize the principles of healthy democracy. With this spirit, the 2024 regional election will be able to run smoothly, safely, and peacefully.