By: Wira Wicaksana)*
Maintaining conduciveness is an important key to ensuring the implementation of a safe and peaceful Regional Head Election (Pilkada). Since the start of the Pilkada stages, the government, security forces, and community leaders have emphasized the importance of maintaining a conducive atmosphere throughout the region.
Regional elections are a means of democracy that allows people to elect regional leaders who are capable of bringing progress, but without conducive conditions, this process can be hampered by various challenges such as conflict, the spread of hoaxes, and friction in society.
The stages of the Pilkada involve various important processes, starting from the determination of candidates, campaigning, to voting day. At each stage, there is the potential for vulnerabilities to arise, whether in the form of differences of opinion between supporters, unhealthy political competition, to the spread of misleading information.
Therefore, it requires active participation from various parties to ensure that this stage takes place safely, orderly, and free from conflict. The community as voters also has a crucial role in maintaining peace and avoiding provocative actions that can worsen the situation.
Central Kalimantan Governor, H. Sugianto Sabran said that the Central Kalimantan Provincial Government is committed to supporting the successful implementation of the Simultaneous Regional Elections, and one of the steps that has been taken is to ensure the formation of the Pilkada Desk at the provincial and district/city levels throughout Central Kalimantan. The presence of the Pilkada Desk is very important, as a forum for the Regional Government to facilitate and support the smooth running of the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections.
The task of the Pilkada Desk is not only to monitor and report on the implementation of the Pilkada, but also to inventory and anticipate various existing problems, including being able to provide suggestions for solving problems, both to the KPU and Bawaslu. The Pilkada Desk also coordinates with the TNI, POLRI, Vertical and Horizontal Agencies, especially to maintain the condition of the community so that it remains safe and conducive.
On the other hand, the importance of maintaining conduciveness during the Pilkada is not only the responsibility of the government or security forces. All elements of society, from religious figures, youth, to civil society groups, must participate in overseeing this democratic process. Through an inclusive approach, each party can play an active role in socializing the importance of a peaceful Pilkada. In addition, the media also plays an important role as a pillar in providing accurate and balanced information, so as not to cause unrest in society.
Issues such as the spread of hoaxes and hate speech are often major challenges during the Pilkada stages. Hoaxes spread on social media can easily trigger divisions in society, especially in the current digital era where information can spread quickly. Therefore, digital literacy education is very important so that people can sort out correct information and not be provoked by news that is not necessarily true. The government and election organizers, together with community leaders, need to work together to provide socialization about the dangers of hoaxes and the importance of maintaining unity during the Pilkada process.
Head of Independent Online Media (MIO), Bengkulu Province, Eva Nisah said the role of the media is very important in helping to anticipate the spread of hoax news, ahead of the implementation of the Pilkada. The media plays a role in providing accurate, objective, and balanced information to the public. By increasing media literacy and verifying every piece of information before it is published, the media can prevent the spread of fake news that has the potential to divide society.
Amidst the rapid flow of information in the digital era, the media must be at the forefront in presenting reliable news and educating the public to be more critical in receiving information.
Cooperation between government agencies and the community is a determining factor in maintaining the conduciveness of the Pilkada. Through good coordination between the central and regional governments, the implementation of the Pilkada is expected to run according to schedule and without significant obstacles. Election organizers must also ensure that each stage, including the campaign and voting, is carried out transparently and fairly. Openness of information regarding the Pilkada process will also prevent prejudice or accusations of fraud.
On the other hand, the role of religious figures cannot be ignored in creating a peaceful Pilkada atmosphere. Religious figures can be a bridge for the community to continue to prioritize the values of unity and respect for differences during the Pilkada period. By giving lectures or sermons that emphasize the importance of maintaining brotherhood, religious figures can help cool the atmosphere and prevent conflicts between supporters of regional head candidates.
Klaten Regent, Sri Mulyani said that religious and community leaders are role models who have a big influence in shaping opinions and mobilizing society. At this Pilkada moment, the role of religious and community leaders is very important in conveying a message of peace, emphasizing the importance of maintaining unity, and inviting the public to be wiser in receiving information and to be able to collaborate with the media to prevent the spread of hoax news, maintain conduciveness, and ensure that the Pilkada takes place safely and democratically.
Success in maintaining conduciveness during the Pilkada stages will have a positive impact on political stability in the region, thereby creating public trust in the democratic process, where every citizen can cast their vote without any pressure or interference. Therefore, all parties must play an active role in maintaining a peaceful atmosphere and encouraging the implementation of a safe, transparent, and fair Pilkada.
)* Postgraduate student living in Bandung