The Rector Accepts Any Presidential Candidate Who Comes to Campaign in Accordance with KPU Regulations

The Ganjar-Mahfud South Kalimantan Regional Winning Team (TPD) posted a projected campaign agenda at Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM). “There will be a campaign on campus. “We have submitted it to ULM,” said South Kalimantan TPD Ganjar-Mahfud Secretary Rizki Eri Munadi, Saturday (23/12). However, Rizki cannot confirm whether Ganjar Pranowo or Mahfud MD will be present on the agenda. He is still waiting for news from the National Winning Team (TPN) of the presidential and vice presidential candidate number 3.

However, ULM Rector  Ahmad Alim Bachri said there had not been a single campaign application letter on his campus. Nevertheless, Ahmad emphasized that ULM is open to being a campaign location for 2024 election participants. “Just submit the letter. “In principle, we accept anyone as long as they comply with the rules,” he said. Campaigning in tertiary institutions is permitted in General Election Commission Regulation (PKPU) Number 20 of 2023

Then in the process, election participants must obtain permission from the chancellor of the university or institute, head of high school or director of polytechnics, colleges and community colleges. It doesn’t come from the head of the study program or the dean and the like. If the letter is issued by someone other than the Rector , director or chairman as mentioned above, then the permit is considered invalid. The only permitted campaign methods are limited meetings and face-to-face meetings.

In terms of time, the implementation of the campaign is also regulated. Campaigns at higher education institutions can only be held on Saturdays and/or Sundays. Apart from that, the KPU emphasized that election participants are prohibited from installing props or campaign materials on campus. Campaigns in the educational environment only revolve around conveying the vision and mission of election contestants. South Kalimantan KPU Chairman Andi Tenri Sompa admitted that he had not received official notification regarding the planned arrival of the presidential and vice presidential candidates to Banua even though there was already news circulating. “We are waiting for it to be official, because election participants who want to carry out campaign activities must register in Sikadeka,” he said.

So far, only presidential candidate number 1 Anies Baswedan has campaigned in South Kalimantan. Meanwhile, presidential candidate number 2 Prabowo Subianto is scheduled for January 29 2024. South Kalimantan TKD Prabowo-Gibran Secretary Alpiya Rahman said there is no planned campaign agenda for presidential candidate number 2 in higher education.

Political Communication Expert, Prof. Bachruddin Ali Akhmad, advised election participants to make thorough preparations if they want to campaign on campus. This is because new activities in the democratic party have the potential to have both good and bad impacts. “The aim of the campaign is to convince and encourage voters so that they are moved to vote. The more specific the target of the campaign, the better. “But, the more specific the target, the more specific political communication techniques must be,” he said.

On the other hand, Bachruddin said election participants must also be prepared for the worst if they want to campaign on campus. Moreover, if the candidate is not liked by the masses. “There is a possibility of being greeted with a sarcastic message, and there could even be people committing troublesome acts. “This is something that must be properly prepared, from a concept to security perspective,” he added.