Jakarta – Bambang Soesatyo (Bamsoet), Indonesian Individuals’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman, warned that holding the 2020 synchronised regional head elections (Pilkada) must not result in new clusters of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a declaration here on Monday, Bamsoet called on regional governments to remain strict in using health protocols since preparations for the 2020 Pilkada were underway in the midst of the increasing variety of COVID-19 cases.
” Issues are swarming in the wake of preparations for the 2020 simultaneous regional head elections because a number of COVID-19 cases were found throughout the series of implementation activities. On Saturday (Sept 5), no less than 69 officers of the election supervisory workplace (Bawaslu) of Boyolali had actually supposedly tested positive for COVID-19,” Bamsoet remarked.
Several potential candidate pairs in different areas were supposedly infected with COVID-19
Bamsoet further indicated the increasing number of violations of health protocols throughout the registration events of the candidates owing to them gathering and disregarding health protocols.
The MPR chairman highlighted that in case of violations of health procedures, the Regional General Election Commissions (KPUD) and Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) need to look for assistance from civil servants designated as legal enforcement officers to keep order.
” This includes getting assistance from personnel of the TNI (Indonesian Defense Forces) and Polri (Indonesian Authorities) designated to implement health protocols in public spaces,” he specified.
Bamsoet projected no other offenses against health protocols throughout the planned regional election project to be held for 71 days, from September 26 to December 5, 2020.
For this reason, he advised prospects to properly manage their supporting masses and to stick to health procedures.
” In addition, the KPUD and Bawaslu need to have the pluck to limit the variety of individuals in any activity related to preparations for the regional head elections,” he specified.
The regional head elections, scheduled to be organized in 270 regions across Indonesia, would be widespread to trigger new clusters of COVID-19 if the health protocols were broken, he noted.
Bamsoet warned that if these steps were not followed diligently, the election activities could, in fact, trigger a spike in the variety of COVID-19 cases in all electoral districts.
Associated news: Prepare for safe simultaneous regional elections in the middle of COVID-19: Jokowi
Related news: Bawaslu, Ministry ink arrangement on health security throughout pilkada
