Universitas Widyatama, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, held a 2019 Election Talk Show with the theme “The Young, The Voters” at the Widyatama University Rectorate Building A, 4th floor, on Monday (8/10).
The speakers were Rifki Ali Mubarok, Head of the West Java Provincial Election Commission (KPUD); Hendra Guntara, Head of the Bandung City KNPI Regional Representative Council (DPD); Hendrasmo, Special Staff to the Director General of Public Information and Communication; and Islahuzzaman, Rector of Universitas Widyatama.
Rifki Ali Mubarok, Chairman of the West Java KPUD, explained the elements of elections, namely election participants, voters, and the campaign process. In this 21st century millennium era, it is certain that social media has become one of the most effective places for campaigning.
The rapid circulation of information, if not used wisely by the younger generation, can have fatal consequences. Take, for example, the recent hoax that became a hot topic of discussion and a national issue. The hope is that the younger generation will now be skeptical of the information that circulates, said Hendrasmo, Special Staff to the Director General of Public Information and Communication.
The Rector of Universitas Widyatama, Islahuzzaman, explained the importance of the role of educational institutions in countering hoaxes by creating a young generation with character, national insight, and instilling an optimistic and skeptical attitude towards circulating issues.
In addition, the Chairman of the DPD KNPI Bandung City, Hendra Guntara, spoke about the importance of the younger generation in electoral activities. The younger generation/students, as agents of social change, must always be smart and wise in facing various issues today, especially those related to hoaxes. “Because hoaxes are more dangerous than corruptors. Corruptors steal people’s money, hoaxes steal common sense,” he concluded.
