Media a Big Influence In Regional Head Elections

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Political analyst Chusnul Mariyah, a former commissioner of the General Election Commission (KPU), said mass media will play a major role in influencing public choice in the simultaneous regional head elections in 2017.

"With the development of information technology and the 'idol' model propagated through the mass media, it is no wonder that the election outcomes are also affected by the phenomenon," said Chusnul when contacted in Jakarta on Saturday.

She explained that the media is one of the factors that influence the public in making a choice in the regional head elections, although it is also influenced by other factors such as religion, race, party identification, networking and policy.

Chusnul, in her evaluation, found that the media's involvement in the process leading to the regional head election is often dominated by news about one candidate.

"How far is there domination of one candidate? Direct elections would not be 'free and fair' if the media is not 'free and fair' as well," he said.

Chusnul believes the media can act as a force on behalf of certain political and business interests and can thus defeat the interests of the country.

She stressed that people must first know what the regional head candidates would do if elected.

Citing the example of Jakarta, Chusnul said the citizens of the capital city are entitled to know what will the candidates do regarding various city issues, such as moral education, health, places of worship, public transport, particularly Metro Mini and Kopaja, gymnasiums, child protection measures, waste management and other matters like clean water. (WDY)