The 2024 General Election (Pemilu) countdown has been announce by the DPR. Along with the approval of the voting day and the schedule for the stages of the Legislative and Presidential Elections, as well as the Regional Head Elections by the DPR, a few days ago.
All parties and political figures who will contest in the upcoming elections are now starting to prepare to build political strategies and communication strategies to get their attention, sympathy and get votes from the citizen.
Presenting their best qualities, while also degrading their opponent most likely would happen during the General Election later.
Unfortunately, in pursuing the popularity and electability of political parties and figures in the country, they also often sparks controversies and issues, which is actually a high risk because it risks the integrity and unity of the nation. There are political figures and parties, who often raise issues and messages, which not only discredit their political opponents, but also undermine the authority of state institutions. It is the duty of the citizens of the nation to maintain the dignity of the integrity of the TNI-Polri.
There is prevocational message that tries to confront the TNI, especially the Army with the Police, as a defense and security force in our country. Not just that, there are also messages that contradict Polri or TNI officials with their superiors or subordinates.
This obviously endanger the solidarity of the two institution.
Aforementioned phenomenon in the realm of communication science is commonly referred to propaganda messages. The sender of the message, will try to convince the receiver they are sending regardless of whether the message contains the truth or not. For them, as long as the purpose of the message can benefit them, they will do it regardless. This includes discrediting third parties as a stepping stone to take advantage of or defeat their real opponents.
In this case, it could be, what political figures and parties are actually doing, not to defeat institutions such as the TNI and Polri, but indirectly, their propaganda moves, will greatly benefit their political moves.
Facing the rampant of those phenomenon until the 2024 General Election, it seems that there is no other way, other than increasing the internal solidity of the Police and with institutions outside the Police, such as the TNI. Intimacy is not just a slogan or appearance of the elite leaders of the two institutions, but must be applied at the lowest level, members of the troops of each institution.
All messages conveyed must coherent, from the highest level to the lowest level. The barriers that may still be present in relation to each other's burdens and responsibilities must be resolved and diluted, so that in carrying out their respective duties ahead of the 2024 General Election, there is no smell of competition or mutual obstruction between the two institutions.
Generally, propaganda must also be countered by providing transparent and detailed explanations related to misinformation of the propaganda messages. If necessary, use public figures to fight propaganda messages spread by political figures or parties.
Don't be afraid to fight these negative messages, both in the mass media and on social media. Always consider which information can be shared, and which may still have to be sorted out.
Stay positive,after all Polri-TNI still trusted highly by the community.The two institutions are in synergy to strengthen the nation.
