Pangkalpinang – Ahead of the Repeat Election (Pemungutan Suara Ulang / PSU) for Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Pangkalpinang 2025, the public is urged to respond wisely to political dynamics to ensure that the people’s voice is truly protected.
Provocative narratives and black campaigns are feared to undermine the spirit of democracy being fostered during this peaceful campaign momentum.
Teguh, a representative of the Berbenah Team, strongly denied allegations linking his group to a social media account that posted negative attacks against one of the candidate pairs.
He stressed that the circulating posts did not originate from his team at all.
“We have no knowledge of such data, let alone the intention of spreading it. Clearly, it did not come from our team,” Teguh said on Tuesday (August 19, 2025).
He assessed that the account was deliberately operated by irresponsible parties seeking to create division among the public.
“We hope the Pangkalpinang PSU can run peacefully and safely, with the people making wise choices without being provoked by black campaigns,” he added.
Acting Mayor of Pangkalpinang, M. Unu Ibnudin, also underscored the urgency of neutrality among Civil Servants (Aparatur Sipil Negara / ASN).
He called on all ASN to maintain professionalism and refrain from involvement in any form of political support.
“ASN neutrality is non-negotiable. We expect all ASN within the Pangkalpinang City Government to truly uphold their stance and avoid engaging in practical politics. This is not only a moral commitment but also a legal obligation,” Unu emphasized.
He confirmed that preparations for the PSU were being carried out through intensive voter data validation in cooperation with the General Elections Commission (KPU), the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Additionally, billboards encouraging voter participation are being installed in strategic spots across the city.
“We have prepared medical teams in every district to anticipate emergencies on election day. The health of officers and voters is a serious concern for us,” he added.
Meanwhile, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo urged all citizens to prioritize peace.
He highlighted that the National Police, together with various elements, have consistently held peaceful election declarations.
“Therefore, on every occasion, in every region with potential risks, we always invite the public to declare peaceful elections,” he stated.
He expressed hope that the public would remain mature in dealing with differences.
“Differences in opinion must not lead to problems, let alone unrest,” General Sigit stressed.