"Hence, every senator in 32 provinces that hold regional elections supervises the process and stages, including the number of regions that seek funding assistance from the center," DPD Chairman La La Nyalla Mahmud Mattalitti noted in a press release here on Tuesday following a DPD plenary session at the Parliament Complex, Senayan.
The evaluation will also encompass health protocols imposed during the election process stages conducted by the General Election Commission (KPU).
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman II of DPD RI Mahyudin noted that the DPD had earlier opposed the plan to organize pilkada on Dec 9, 2020, in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the government and KPU took a collective decision to proceed with the election process in states.
"Hence, we have to be wise and remain sentient to the principle of prudence," he stated.
According to DPD’s recent report of the country's 34 provinces, several regions had expressed readiness to hold the simultaneous regional head elections, but several others suggested that the elections be postponed, as they are still preoccupied with the fight against the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Mahyudin highlighted the need to implement the government-issued Perpu No. 2 of 2020, or Government Regulation en lieu of Law No. 2 of 2020, on regional head elections and abide by the health protocols on handling the pandemic.
Four DPD leaders -- DPD Chairman AA LaNyalla Mahmud Mattalitti, Deputy Chair I Nono Sampono, Deputy Chair II Mahyudin, and Deputy Chair III Sultan Baktiar Najamudin -- were physically present during the DPD plenary session at the Senayan parliamentary complex, while DPD members partook virtually in the meeting from their respective residences.
Earlier, the leadership and members of Committee I of the DPD RI agreed to reject the simultaneous regional head elections in December 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. They expressed their rejection through a letter sent to the government. Related news: KPU draws government's praises for postponing regional head elections
Related news: COVID-19: NGO seeks postponement of local election process
Translator: Zuhdiar Laeis, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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