UNS — The Rector of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, invited and encouraged students to supervise the implementation of concurrent local government election (Pemilihan Kepala Daerah – Pilkada) of 2020 on 9 December 2020. This invitation was delivered when he acted as a speaker in Public Discussion Forum on “The Role of University Student in Succeeded the Concurrent Election 2020 in the Digital Space”, in Emerald Grand Ballroom Solo Paragon, Friday (13/11/2020).
In the discussion with Prof. Widodo Moektiyo (Directorate General of IKP Kemkominfo RI) and Prof. Sofyan Anif (Rector of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS)), Prof. Jamal, stated that the implementation of concurrent Pilkada this year is unique because it will be conducted in hundreds of regions amid the Covid-19 pandemic that struck Indonesia. “This will become a wonderful historical record. Because Pilkada that involves 270 regions concurrently. Since our independence, we never had a Pilkada during a pandemic. Therefore, the procedure will be different by maintaining 3M and PPS and organizer need to be selective in selecting a place to run the election post. Lest it becomes a covid-19 cluster,” Prof. Jamal stated.
Prof. Jamal added that the number of the young generation, including generation Z, registered in the voter list (Daftar Pemilih Tetap – DPT) in this concurrent Pilkada is large. This, according Prof. Jamal, is a superiority because the young generation have the ability to use the information technology appropriately can take an active role in supervising the election and ensuring honesty and fairness. He mentioned that university students have three roles in this Pilkada, as the organizer, supervisor, and whistleblower of an alleged election violation. To implement these roles, university students as intellectual figure needs to be neutral, to have integrity, the ability of critical and objective thinking, the ability to mobilize new constructive ideas for political decision making and public policy, as well as the ability to balance the information.
“If an election violation occurred, fellow students can be actively reporting the violations. Of course, as an intellectual figure, I hope that students have integrity and neutrality as well as independence. There are a commitment and loyalty to struggle for the society,” he stated.
In the presence of students from UNS, UMS, Universitas Slamet Riyadi (Unisri) Surakarta and STIE AUB who participated in the discussion, the Rector stated that university students have a strategic role in determining the future of the nation. Students are expected to become the agent of change, to play their socio-political role and function, and build people awareness to be able to implement democracy better. For Prof. Jamal, the concurrent Pilkada that uphold the spirit of democracy is the safest public decision-making that everyone can monitor. Democracy also reduces the risk of conflict, violence, and open an opportunity for everybody to be a leader. “This Pilkada is a public instrument to entrust sovereignty. Whoever elected as the political elite and trusted by the community must fulfil the mandate to improve welfare,” Prof. Jamal. Humas concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
