TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Home Affairs Ministry's Director-General for Politics and Government, Bahtiar, asserted that the 2020 regional head election or Pilkada will not be postponed. According to him, the event could be a contest of ideas between candidates, and a moment for the public to rise from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“So the election will still be held on December 9, 2020. The preparations are on the making. I say this again, let's make it a moment to rise together to combat COVID-19 and its social-economic impacts,” said Bahtiar in the ministry building in Central Jakarta, Wednesday, July 29.

Asked about the risk of novel coronavirus transmission, Bahtiar said there will be 3 million election organizers with ten people in each polling station. They will also be asked to disseminate the health protocols to the public to prevent virus spread.

Bahtiar argued that this year’s election could be a competition for regional head candidates to compete for ideas in handling the social-economic impacts caused by the pandemic. Candidates who could present concrete ideas and programs will gain public support, while those who are not capable will be left behind.

The 2020 regional head election, he added, should be held as scheduled so that people will still have an opportunity to choose trusted leaders who could help them out from the crisis.

“People have the right to have the best regional head who can lead to contain COVID-19 and its social-economic impacts,” Bahtiar said.

Read also: COVID-19 Task Force Reveals Reason Behind Office Clusters

ACHMAD HAMUDI ASSEGAF