By: Dhita Karuniawati )*
Simultaneous Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) will be held in November 2024. The votes of all Indonesian people will determine the future of a region for the next five years in the 2024 Pilkada. The implementation of this regional democratic party must be realized cleanly and with integrity to be passed on to the younger generation. Because, they will also feel the benefits of development in the future under the leadership of elected regional heads. Therefore, the quality of Indonesian democracy on the 2024 Pilkada agenda needs to be considered important and it is a shared responsibility to produce political leadership in accordance with the aspirations of the people.
Clean elections with integrity do not only concern money, funding and so on, but also involve other substantive matters, such as rules relating to regional elections or other matters that support the implementation of regional elections, in accordance with the principles of elections, namely Direct, General, Free and Secret. (LUBER). Integrity is required, both from the participants and the Pilkada organizers themselves. This synergy is an important element for the success of the 2024 Pilkada contestation.
Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission, Alexander Marwata, invited the public to elect regional head candidates who are competent and have integrity in the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections, next November. If you choose a bad leader, the effects will last for the next five years and society will also suffer. They cannot imagine that the regional head who will be elected will previously bribe the people.
Alexander Marwata added that he hopes Indonesia will be 100 years old. At that time, all communities will see that the next generation can live in prosperity, peace, without conflict between groups. According to him, this starts with changing attitudes and upholding the value of integrity.
Likewise, Member of Commission II DPR RI Bagus Adhi Mahendra Putra, invited all elements of society, especially students, to actively oversee the preparation and implementation of the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections. He emphasized the importance of passing on a healthy democracy free from the practice of money politics to the younger generation. which is the embryo of future nation building.
The essence of democracy is not just about determining who wins and who loses, but how to produce clean leaders, without breaking the rules and without engaging in money politics. All parties, especially the political elite, must be able to provide a spectacle of true democracy, which is the identity of the Indonesian nation, Pancasila Democracy. Students are also expected to be at the forefront in guarding the real democratic process.
Bagus Adhi reminded that students who are forged with nationalistic dedication in college must maintain their idealism and not get trapped in pragmatism and transactionalism which damage democracy when they enter society. According to him, this must continue to be maintained for the survival of democracy. He also emphasized the importance of students understanding and monitoring the democratic process well. They are expected to become agents of change who are able to maintain and promote democratic values that are clean and have integrity.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Lampung Regional Management, Prof. Dr Sudarman MAg said the public must actively participate in the 2024 Pilkada. The public is also advised to move together to suppress potential violations, especially money politics and non-neutrality of ASN. The community plays a key role in creating clean regional elections. Money politics can damage the democratic order. If we all refuse, there will be no room for violators to act.
Prof. Darman appealed to the public not to abstain. High and quality participation will determine our future. He also emphasized the importance of the neutrality of organizers and ASN. In the simultaneous regional elections, the organizers, officials and ASN must be neutral. They are the main pillars that ensure fair and democratic elections. Apart from that, the KPU and Bawaslu must plan the stages of the regional elections carefully and hold them professionally and fairly.
The implementation of quality regional elections and higher levels of public participation are highly desired to make the regional democracy agenda a success in 2024. Healthy democracy is a reflection of an empowered society. The community has high hopes for the 2024 regional elections to bring positive changes to the region over the next five years. With integrity and active participation from the entire community, the dream or hope of realizing better regional development is not impossible.
It is believed that regional elections with integrity can accelerate the presence of clean and good regional government. It is hoped that this good intention and enthusiasm can be implemented immediately to create the emergence of regional leaders who are trustworthy, serve and are able to carry out their promises to the community. Elected regional heads are expected to have a commitment to creating clean governance that can be implemented properly and seriously.
The success or failure of the 2024 regional elections is our collective responsibility. Therefore, let’s make the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Election a success by increasing voter participation, avoiding money politics, prioritizing campaign ideas, programs, ideas, not hoaxes or SARA, and hate speech. Don’t let a single vote go to waste by abstaining or not exercising your right to vote in the 2024 regional elections.
*) The author is a contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Study Institute