UNAIR NEWS – General elections to choose the president – vice president and the legislative representatives were held simultaneously for the first time this year. Some things need to be evaluated by all elements. About 500 officials of KPPS (polling station working committee) died due to fatigue and lengthy process of election.
For these incidents, the Ministry of Social and Politics (Sospol) Student Executive Board (BEM) Universitas Airlangga 2019 with BEM Faculty of Medicine (FK) held a public discussion on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, in the anatomy lecture hall, FK, Campus A.
The speakers were FK UNAIR Forensic Lecturer Dr. Ahmad Yudianto, dr., Sp.F (K)., SH., M.Kes; External Vice President of Indonesian Medical Student Senate Association (ISMKI) Nauval Fariz S.Ked .; and Lecturer of Political Science FISIP UNAIR Ucu Martanto S.IP., MA. There was also Dr. M. Hadi Subhan, SH., MH., CN., as Director of UNAIR Student Affairs. The discussion was moderated by Betta Novia Rizky, drg., as an assistant lecturer in FKG UNAIR Forensic Odontology.
Aditya D. Anugrah as Director General of Health, Ministry of Social and Politics BEM UNAIR 2019 said that it should not only be discussed from the political point of view, but human values and health perspectives are far more critical, such as the issue of health insurance for KPPS officials.
“We want to know whether the KPPS officials’ health has been facilitated and guaranteed or not,” Adit said.
In the discussion, there were data search, issue studies, and statement release. In searching for data, factual information and data were obtained through direct visits to the families of victims. There were two families in Surabaya visited by BEM UNAIR.
“We are purely discussing data academically, so the statement does not come from assumptions. However, we have gone directly and known what the facts are, ” he said.
From the discussion, there were six statements made. They demanded police to carry out forensic autopsies on the deaths of more than 500 KPPS officials, demanded KPU to provide compensation to the victims’ families; demanded KPU to accommodate health exams and provide funds to carry out general health exams; demanded the government to separate the central and regional electoral systems; demanded KPU to implement Manpower Act for KPPS official work; and recommended KPU to provide health practitioners at polling stations during the election process in the future.
The six statements will be presented to KPU and KPUD for advocacy and consolidation.
“As students, we should be aware of politics. So, we must be involved in this kind of thing so it will not happen again, “concluded Adit.
Meanwhile, Director of UNAIR Student Affairs Dr. Hadi appreciates the implementation of scientific and academic discussion related to current issues in the regional and national scope. The critical way of thinking towards social issues is essential as students are agents of change.
“Students can play their role through discussions like this,” said Dr. M. Hadi in his remarks.
“In moments like this, we can study, if there are recommendations and the formal studies can involve the parties concerned,” he added. (*)
Author: Ulfah Mu’amarotul Hikmah
Editor: Feri Fenoria Rifa’i
