Samarinda, Sketsa.id – The second Provincial Conference (Musprov) of the Indonesian Cyber Media Union (SMSI) in East Kalimantan, held on Saturday, May 11, 2025, at the Ruhui Rahayu Room in the East Kalimantan Governor’s Office, was overshadowed by tensions during the election of the new chairman.

The atmosphere grew heated after Wiwid Marhendra was announced as the elected SMSI East Kalimantan Chairman for the 2025–2029 term.

What began as a orderly session in the morning quickly escalated into a contentious debate. Several Musda participants voiced objections, alleging that the election process deviated from the established rules and guidelines set by SMSI’s central leadership.

“It’s not about who was elected, but how the process was conducted. We believe certain aspects of the procedural framework were irrelevant and failed to accommodate regional dynamics,” said one participant, who requested anonymity.

Tensions peaked as delegates from various regencies and cities raised successive interruptions, demanding a temporary suspension of the plenary session to clarify the rules governing the election. The situation prompted the session’s chair to call for a brief recess to defuse the atmosphere and facilitate mediation.

A closed-door meeting involving participant representatives and SMSI central leadership followed, resulting in an agreement to uphold the Musda’s outcome while committing to improve the system and communication moving forward.

Despite the heated exchanges, the Musda successfully concluded all its agenda items, including the announcement of the new leadership structure.

The event serves as a stark reminder that media organizations like SMSI are not merely platforms for collaboration but also critical spaces where principles, ethics, and governance are tested and strengthened. (*)