Directives of President of the Republic of Indonesia During the National Consolidation Meeting on the Preparedness for 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections, at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta, August 20, 2024

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good morning,
Peace and prosperity be upon us all,
Shalom,
Om Swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of Virtue.

Honorable Chairperson of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Mr. Mochammad Afifuddin, and all commissioners of the KPU of the Republic of Indonesia;
Honorable Chairperson of the Audit Board (BPK), Ministers of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Minister of Home Affairs, Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Kapolri),
Honorable Chairperson of the General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Mr. Rahmat Bagja, Chairperson of the Honorary Council of Election Organizers (DKPP) Mr. Heddy Lugito;
Honorable Chairperson of the Provincial KPU and Chairperson of the Aceh Independent Election Commission (KIP) and all staff who are attending, Honorable Heads of Regency and City Elections Commission (KPUD) throughout Indonesia, Heads of KIP Regency/City in Aceh Province and all staff,
Ladies and gentlemen.

First of all, I’d like to express my highest appreciation and utmost respect for the efforts of the KPU, from the central to regional levels, for successfully organizing all stages of the 2024 presidential and legislative elections in a safe, orderly, and smooth manner.

I understand that organizing simultaneous elections is extremely difficult, the biggest elections in our nation’s history. There are presidential elections, the House of Representatives elections, the Regional Representatives Council elections, then the provincial, regency, and municipal legislative council elections with a total number of valid votes of 164,227,475 votes across 822,699 polling stations.

I can only imagine how many polling stations there were during the last election and it was also done simultaneously. Therefore, once again, I would like to express my deepest gratitude.

I know the fatigue has not dissipated. Right? Maybe you are still sore, still tired because you just finished the process at the Constitutional Court yesterday. But in a few days, we will enter the stage of simultaneous elections in 508 regencies/cities and 37 provinces. This is a tough task that we bear together.

Given the heavy task of the KPU, I apologize that there has been no increase in incentive allowances since 2014. I just found out yesterday that it has been since 2014. So yesterday, I immediately followed through. Basically, I will not attend this consolidation meeting if I have not signed it.

Thank God, I signed it yesterday. I know, I know that it is not President Jokowi whom you are waiting for; you are waiting for that one, I know. After I signed it yesterday, I realized that it has not been done since 2014. And, the formula for the increase is simple, calculate, calculate, calculate, then find it. And, yesterday, it was decided that the increase would be 50 percent.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We will soon hold regional elections, no less complicated than the last election. This is the first simultaneous regional election. This is our first simultaneous regional election. Once again, it will be held in 508 regencies/cities and 37 provinces. There are 203 million voters on the provisional voter list or to be precise 203,920,554 voters.

I just want to point out that the previous problems should not be repeated, with regard to voter registration, inaccurate voter data or multiple registrations, and logistics distribution, storage, and shortages. You should be careful on these matters.

Then, the problems during the voting process, related to damage to voting tools and ballots, security disturbances, meaning that we must really pay attention to security and health together. And the dissemination of information is crucial. In addition, there were also problems in the vote counting process, errors in the calculation of the number of votes, both due to human and IT system errors.

It is also necessary to improve the monitoring function of the electoral process by assigning neutral independent observers, increasing the transparency of the vote counting process by using reliable technology, increasing public participation to prevent fraud, and enforcing the law for those who practice money politics.

This task will require hard work, cooperation, and good synergy between the KPU, Bawaslu, and the DKPP, as well as various segments of society. I believe that the KPU has more than enough experience and knowledge.

However, we must remain vigilant, continue to improve the technical capacity of the election preparation, create breakthroughs so that the elections are of better caliber, meaning that the process and results gain strong legitimacy from the people.

The KPU is the main guardian of the quality of our electoral democracy. So, please carry out your duties with a full sense of responsibility, dedication, honor and integrity.

This concludes my directives.

 I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(FI/EP)