Jakarta, Sept. 12 -- The Regional Representatives Council's (DPD's) Committee I reiterated its rejection to the simultaneous regional head elections scheduled for December 9, 2020, on grounds that new COVID-19 clusters would arise as a consequence.

The committee urged the government to put the elections on hold.

Chief of Committee I of DPD Fachrul Razi on Saturday described as "irrational" the elections that had entered the campaign period last week after the registration of candidates since the fiesta of democracy may lead to new clusters of COVID-19.

"One of (the regional) KPU (General Election Commission) members was exposed to COVID-19. Earlier, 21 employees of (the central) KPU also contracted the virus. In Boyolali (Central Java)...