PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - Acting Governor of West Java Bey Machmudin attended the Cross-Sectoral Coordination Meeting (Rakor) for the 2024 Mantap Praja Lodaya Operation at the West Java Regional Police Traffic Directorate hall, Bandung City, Monday (12/8/2024).

The coordination meeting was held in order to secure the 2024 Gubernatorial/Deputy Gubernatorial Election in the jurisdiction of the West Java Regional Police.

In his speech, Bey explained that West Java has 35 million voters and more than 73,000 Polling Stations (TPS) spread across 27 districts and cities.

He also said that comprehensive security and strong coordination are the keys to successfully holding safe, peaceful and orderly elections.

"One of the most crucial aspects in securing elections is that logistics, from the distribution of ballot papers to other voting equipment, must be strictly guarded," said Bey Machmudin.

"Close cooperation between the police, TNI, and all regional apparatus is also important to ensure that there are no loopholes that can be exploited by parties who want to disrupt the election process," Bey continued.

In addition, Bey explained, in this digital era cyber security needs to be a top priority. The potential threats are from the spread of hoaxes, disinformation and hacking attempts that can disrupt the election process.

"I encourage all related agencies to improve their early detection capabilities for cyber threats and build a system that is able to respond quickly to all forms of disruption in cyberspace," he said.

Not only securing physical aspects, Bey said, non-physical aspects such as social, economic and political stability need to have the same understanding, as well as a strong commitment to maintaining the integrity of the election.

"Awareness of potential vulnerabilities that can disrupt the democratic process must be carefully anticipated, whether from cyber threats, hoaxes or potential social conflict," he said.

One unified command

Bey also said that solid cross-sectoral collaboration between components working synergistically in one integrated command is important.

"There should be no sectoral egos that hinder the smooth running of this operation. All parties must be on the same side, guarding and protecting the people's voting rights as best they can," said Bey.

In addition to the security aspect, Bey reminded of the importance of a persuasive approach, education about election participation needs to be echoed to the public.

"Socialization regarding election procedures must be explained in language that is easy to understand for all levels of society," he said.

"We must prevent the potential for abstention by providing complete and accurate information to the public," Bey explained.

He also invited all parties to be alert to the possibility of security disturbances, both sporadic and structured.

"It is important for us to have high preparedness and the ability to respond quickly and appropriately," he said.

"We must also always remember that every action we take in this operation will have a direct impact on the public's sense of security and their trust in the democratic process," he said.

He also appreciated all parties who had committed to working hard to secure this year's election.

"Let us show that West Java is capable of being an example in organizing quality elections, with integrity, professionalism, and strong synergy with all parties," concluded Bey.