To all campaign teams and candidates, sanctions will still be imposed if you violate the rules on this last day of the campaign period
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD urged regional election candidates to comply with health protocols and campaign rules on the last day of the campaign period for the 2020 simultaneous regional elections.

"To all campaign teams and candidates, sanctions will still be imposed if you violate the rules on this last day of the campaign period," Mahfud MD noted in a statement here on Saturday.

Mahfud lauded the smooth running of the election campaign.

"Thank you and I am glad because reports from the police, Bawaslu (Election Supervisory Agency), and KPU (General Elections Commission) on the field showed that the 71-day campaign has run smoothly," he remarked.

Until the last day of the campaign period, the authority had found 1,520 violations, or 2.2 percent of the 75 thousand events conducted during the period.

However, the violations were committed on a small scale and did not pose a risk of emergence of new COVID-19 clusters, he stated.

"All has run smoothly. There were warnings for some violations. Some 16 cases have been handled under the criminal law domain. However, the cases were relatively small, so it did not attract public attention," the minister remarked.

Mahfud expressed hope that on the last day of the campaign period, all candidates would maintain public order and continue to adhere to health protocols.

"Let us end this campaign, today, until this evening. After this, we will enter the electoral silence. Have your last campaigning day," Mahfud affirmed.

Indonesia will hold the 2020 regional elections on Dec 9 amid calls from prominent figures urging the government to postpone the regional elections owing to concerns of public health and coronavirus transmission.

The simultaneous regional elections is set to take place in 270 regions, covering nine provinces, 224 districts, and 37 cities.
Related news: Police deploys 456,141 personnel to secure regional election phases

Related news: Legislator supports reduction in regional election campaign period

EDITED BY INE

Translator: Syaiful Hakim, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020