UNAIR NEWS – As the election draws near, many people are still confused about their choices. This time, “Demi Indonesia Cerdas Memilih” is here to assist both novice voters and those who have participated in previous elections, to act more wisely. This occasion involves a collaborative talk show between the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo) and Detik.com.
“Demi Indonesia Cerdas Memilih” has brought together some of Surabaya’s prominent figures. Among them is Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih SE MT Ak, the Rector of Universitas Airlangga, who served as a keynote speaker at the event held at the Dyandra Convention Center in Surabaya on Tuesday, Feb 6, 2024. During the event, Prof. Nasih mentioned that approximately 1,700 UNAIR students have committed to voting in Surabaya, with their polling stations located around Wonorejo and Gubeng.
He also urged UNAIR students not to engage in money politics activities to maintain integrity, transparency, and fairness in the election process.
“We provide early education, especially for first-time voters, to intelligently choose the future leaders for the next five years,” he said.
The UNAIR FEB lecturer also mentioned that to enliven the 2024 election, UNAIR has tasked students to observe the situation at the polling stations. They will write their observations into short stories or papers, which will later earn them Achievement Credit Points (SKP).
Furthermore, to monitor the election process, UNAIR’s Student Executive Board (BEM) collaborates with all BEMs in Surabaya and the General Election Supervisory Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BAWASLU) to ensure a smooth election process. “All processes are intelligently carried out by our UNAIR academic community members for a better future in Indonesia, focusing not just on short-term interests,” he expressed.
He hopes students will demonstrate tolerance for each other’s choices—a principle crucial in democracy. It emphasizes the importance of respecting differences of opinion, acknowledging the right of every individual to participate in the democratic process, and accepting the election results, regardless of individual political preferences.
He emphasized that students must be discerning in sorting and selecting information, relying on valid and reliable news sources. Prof. Nasih urged them not to be swayed by fake news and not to compromise their idealism for a small amount of money.
“Be intelligent voters when considering long-term leadership; start by researching the track record of candidate pairs. It’s akin to choosing a school program—something beyond just a temporary need,” he explained.
Author: Mutiara Rachmi Karenina
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
