REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) said here on Saturday that 2018 would become a very crucial momentum for Indonesia's democracy in view of potential corruption threats in the simultaneous regional elections to be held in the year. In a press statement, it called 2018 as a "politically busy" year, because besides elections in 171 regions, the process of legislative and presidential elections in 2019 will also begin in the year.
The non-governmental organization stated that election contests have often been smeared by various kinds of problems, including corruption. Several cases being handled by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) are related to election issues, as indicated by budget manipulation, business permit, position buying, and bribery issue in dispute settlement, it added.
As for political parties, the regional elections would be used to measure the strength and effectiveness of their political engines to meet the presidential election.
The gap between the date of regional elections, which is on June 27, and registration of presidential and vice presidential candidates will be very short, or merely 38 days, which result in various potential irregularities and conflicts to be at their climax, it remarked.
President Joko Widodo has called on the people to maintain national unity in the political year to make the country an advanced and great country. In a speech at Muhammadiyah University in Kupang on Jan 8, he reiterated that Indonesia is a big country consisting of various local cultures, traditions, beliefs, tribes, and languages. He remarked that the differences must not be used to cause divisions but must become a source of strength.
Political observer from Paramadhina University, Dr Hendri Satrio, on the other hand, has reminded the community on the need to increase awareness against hoaxes or false information, especially about violent cases or cases relating to "SARA" (ethnic, religious, racial, and group differences). "The key is to be selective while receiving messages and mature while responding to them," he explained.
He added that hoaxes and narratives about violence are difficult to avoid in the midst of the current boom of social media and information technology. Therefore, parties must really be aware of them and increase their knowledge to fortify themselves.
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