"Let us fight against money politics, hate speeches, and campaign speeches targeting sensitive issues of religious, tribal, ethnic, and group differences (SARA) that poison democracy," he noted in his speech at the National Coordination Meeting on preparations for simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections in 2019 in Ancol.
Tjahyo pointed to three indicators that will determine success in the elections, with the first being an increase in the number of participants.
"To increase participation, we must fight what poisons democracy," he stated.
He believes that the people must encourage legislative candidates and campaign teams of presidential candidates to campaign on better ideas for the country.
Tjahyo believed the police can eradicate the campaign of hate speeches, especially those through social media.
"I believe the police have the capacity to fight them, although there are 300 million cell phones and 400 million SIM cards in the hands of the population numbering 263 million," he stated.
The minister also called on the people to recall the public`s enthusiasm in the first general election in 1955.
"I think we need to reflect on the first election in 1955 when participation had reached 91.41 percent. In the last election in 2014, the participation was good, reaching 74.30 percent," he noted.
On the occasion, the minister praised the General Election Commission (KPU), from the central to local offices, for having conducted the recent simultaneous regional head elections smoothly.
"I am convinced that consolidation has been done, and election organizational institutions have cooperated well to make the consolidation successful," he noted.
He believed the KPU had been able to identify potential problems based on its experience so far.
"Until now, all stages in the run-up to the election have been completed well without any intervention," he pointed out.
In the election scheduled on Apr 17 next year, President Joko Widodo, as incumbent, will compete against retired army general Prabowo Subianto.
Jokowi, as the president is also called, has picked chief Islamic cleric Ma`ruf Amin as his running mate while Prabowo has chosen young businessman Sandiaga Uno. Prabowo was beaten by Jokowi in the last election in 2014.
Reporting by Syaiful Hakim
Editing by Yoseph Hariyadi
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Yosep Hariyadi
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
