Independent Report – Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Bima Arya Sugiarto. He has issued a firm reminder regarding the importance of avoiding further repeated elections after the upcoming 2024 regional election re-run. This statement was made during his remarks at the logistics distribution for the re-run of the mayoral election in Banjarbaru. South Kalimantan, on Friday, April 18. The event, held at the KPU (General Election Commission) logistics warehouse in the Kemuning subdistrict of Banjarbaru. Was a follow-up to the decision by the Constitutional Court (MK) for the 2024 Banjarbaru mayoral election.
Bima emphasized that the implementation of this re-run must proceed smoothly, without the need for further electoral repeats. He pointed out the risks of new violations arising during the re-run process, which could result in another round of PSU. This caution was meant to ensure the integrity of the election process. Avoiding unnecessary delays or complications that could jeopardize the democratic process.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) has recorded a total of 24 instances of PSU across Indonesia. Which have cost around 700 billion IDR in public funds. Bima underlined that this expenditure, derived from the people’s money. Should be returned to the public through the successful organization of the election re-run. He stressed the significance of ensuring that all processes are carried out properly to avoid the risk of additional electoral repeats. Which would further burden the public.
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Acknowledging the hard work of all involved in organizing these elections, Bima praised the efforts of the electoral authorities. He emphasized that every effort must be made to close any gaps that could potentially lead to violations. Moreover, he expressed hope that any legal challenges to the PSU that have already taken place in various regions would not lead to a further round of re-runs. Bima said, “I hope, I really hope, these lawsuits won’t be granted. And further re-runs won’t be executed again,” he added, underlining the importance of avoiding any disruptions to the electoral process.
One of Bima’s key points was the strategic role that elected regional heads play in advancing national and regional priority programs. Therefore, he stressed that the re-run elections should not hinder the progress of local development initiatives. He called for an acceleration in the execution of development programs, urging that the PSU in Banjarbaru should not cause any delays. “We want everything to be accelerated. Let’s appreciate the efforts, and I hope there are no loopholes that will lead to another PSU in Banjarbaru,” he said.
In addition to ensuring smooth and successful elections, Bima also discussed the importance of proper logistics distribution and voter education. He stressed that every stage, from voting to vote counting, must proceed without any hitches. This is essential to maintaining the credibility of the electoral process. Furthermore, he reminded all parties involved to prepare for any potential social or natural disturbances that could arise during the election. In his view, it was crucial to have proper mitigation measures in place to address any unforeseen problems. Such as social unrest or natural disasters. “Mitigation measures for potential issues, both social and environmental, have also been anticipated,” Bima concluded.
The Deputy Minister’s remarks underscored the critical nature of ensuring the smooth execution of the 2024 PSU process. Aiming to avoid any further disruption and to facilitate the swift progression of development agendas at the regional level. He reiterated that while challenges may arise, the goal should always be to ensure that the election process is fair, transparent, and free from additional complications. This would allow for a seamless transition into the governance phase, where elected leaders can focus on serving their communities without unnecessary delays.
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