PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The West Java General Election Commission (KPU) hopes that the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) will not be colored by narratives that can cause ethnic, religious, racial and inter-group (SARA) divisions.

This was conveyed by the Head of the Division of Socialization, Education, Voters and Community Participation of the West Java KPU, Hedi Ardia, at the Voter Education Socialization event with the Cimahi Interfaith and Humanitarian Network.

"We really hope that in West Java there will be no candidate pairs, no campaign teams, no parties who use SARA issues or politicize religion in determining their choice of candidate pairs for governor and deputy governor," said Hedi at the Soegijapranata Hall, Santo Ignatius Cimahi, Monday (16/9/2024).

Hedi said that the four candidate pairs for governor and deputy governor of West Java in 2024 have the same religious beliefs, namely Islam.

The four prospective pairs of candidates for Governor of West Java are Dedi Mulyadi-Erwan Setiawan, Ahmad Syaikhu-Ilham Akbar Habibie, Acep Adang Ruhiat-Gitalis Dwinatarina and Jeje Wiradinata-Ronal Surapradja.

Therefore, Hedi hopes that SARA issues or issues that discriminate against God's creations will not occur in the 2024 Pilkada.

"We see the background or profile of the four prospective candidate pairs currently, it seems that they all have the same religion, but if we look at their gender, some are different," said Hedi.

"Hopefully no one in us will use the issue of SARA or use issues that discriminate against fellow creatures of God," he added.

Hedi said that currently, the 2024 Pilkada process has entered the approval stage after the prospective candidate pairs were declared to have met the administrative requirements.

"During the gubernatorial, regent and mayoral election stages, the period is for listening to input and responses," he said.

"We have determined that administratively, the four prospective gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidate pairs have met the requirements," continued Hedi.

Hedi said the public response stage will last until Wednesday (18/9/2024). After that, the West Java KPU will continue to provide responses until Saturday (21/9/2024).

"Is there any public response that could make someone become a battalion? And on the 22nd (November) we will determine, on the 23rd (November) we will draw the serial numbers," he explained.

Hedi hopes that the four candidate pairs for governor and deputy governor of West Java can all pass.

"There are four potential candidate pairs, hopefully all four of them can pass and we can determine them as the candidate pairs for governor and deputy governor of West Java 2024," he said.

On the other hand, Hedi reminded that the community can determine the fate of their region by participating in electing candidate leaders on November 27.

"On November 27, all of us Indonesian citizens who have the right to vote will be faced with election conditions again," he said.

"The choice is, do we want to use our political rights or not? Our political rights to determine whether a region advances or declines are ours," he added.

Hedi assessed that the future of the people and their region will be determined in just 5 minutes at the polling station (TPS).

"It is determined by our 5 minutes of choice in the voting booth. It will be determined by all of us on November 27. Not only the people of West Java, but all of Indonesia simultaneously," he said.

In the same place, the Head of the Saint Ignatius Parish in Cimahi, Yulianus Yaya Rusyadi, said that the regional election process which will take place on November 27, 2024 is part of community participation for the nation and state.

"This is all part of our contribution to the nation and state, especially for West Java, also for the city and district where we are located," said Yulianus.

Without community participation, said Yulianus, the community's ideals for the progress of the nation and state will not be possible.

"Only with the participation of all of us, can we achieve what we aspire to," he said.

Yulianus advised the public to choose a candidate for leader according to their conscience without any coercion from any party.

"Being a voter is certainly not easy, but when we can choose what we think is best, then we have made a contribution," he added.

"We are not looking for our own interests, but the interests of West Java, then our cities and districts that are truly advanced," stressed Yulianus. (rep no)