KPU and KPP DEM Sign MoU on Information Transparency and Reporting
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The General Elections Commission of the Republic of Indonesia (KPU RI) and the Coalition of Election Reporters and Democracy (KPP DEM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen synergy with the press in information transparency, reporting, and democracy literacy in the organisation of future general elections (pemilu) and regional head elections (pilkada).
KPU RI Chairman Mochammad Afifuddin stated that the signing of this cooperation marks the first time in KPU’s history to collaborate intensively with press colleagues focused on covering electoral matters.
“Perhaps for the first time in this KPU office, the support in disseminating information from friends in the Coalition of Election Reporters is extraordinary; even a broken glass here becomes news, let alone more than that,” said Afif at the KPU RI office in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The MoU signing took place in the main meeting room on the second floor of the KPU RI Building, Jalan Imam Bonjol, Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday.
With this signing, Afif hopes that KPP DEM can continue to support the KPU in widely disseminating information about elections in Indonesia.
“Of course, we hope not to be anxious; bad news is good news, but good news is news. Good news about elections is also good; perhaps it is also necessary to report on things surrounding elections that do not all deal with elections,” he said.
Meanwhile, KPP DEM Chairman Achmad Satryo Yudhantoko, in his remarks, said that the signing of this MoU is a form of his organisation’s consistency in overseeing the entire election process in Indonesia.
“We, the Coalition of Election Reporters and Democracy, up to this day are still striving to be consistent and collaborate with KPU RI to jointly oversee the five-yearly democracy festival that certainly never escapes public scrutiny,” said Satryo.
On that occasion, Satryo also praised the KPU for never discriminating or clustering mass media in providing election information.
“Alhamdulillah, during our annual collaboration, the KPU has always opened wide spaces without discriminating between mainstream or class-one press, second-class press, or even the currently popular homeless media. So the KPU always has space for press colleagues and journalists,” he said.
Therefore, through this cooperation, Satryo hopes that the collaboration already established very well with the KPU can provide benefits in improving Indonesia’s democracy index, especially regarding elections.
“Our hope from the Coalition of Election Reporters and Democracy is that with the signing of the MoU today, the collaboration that has occurred between the KPU and KPP DEM can become broader and more beneficial for us to jointly improve Indonesia’s democracy index in the eyes of the world,” said Satryo.
In addition to KPP DEM, on that occasion, the KPU also signed MoUs with the Ministry of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers/Agency for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI/BP2MI) and the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI).