Jakarta, IO – In the run-up to the 2024 elections, state civil apparatus (ASN) who deliberately pose with hand gesture in expression of support for certain presidential and vice presidential candidates can be sacked.
Mohammad Averrouce, the head of data, communications and public information bureau of the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry (PANRB), said this was regulated in the 2022 joint decree (SKB) by five ministers.
“ASN must be very careful when posing for photo while making a hand gesture. It is hoped that various poses used by various political parties in campaigning will not be imitated or carried out on various occasions,” said Averrouce, per CNN Indonesia, Thu (16/11).
He added that in various regulations there are sanctions if ASN is not neutral. In the second attachment to SKB clause 7, ASN is prohibited from uploading any forms of support for certain candidates to social media.
Offenders are threatened with severe disciplinary sanctions as stated in Article 8 clause 1 of Government Regulation 94/2021. This can take the form of demotion to a lower level position for 12 months, suspension for 12 months, and dismissal from civil service.
Read: Mount Merapi Spews 16 Lavafalls
“We hope that neutrality is the main thing that must be maintained so that the election can be carried out fairly,” he said.
On Tuesday (14/11), the General Elections Commission (KPU) conducted a drawing of ballot number. The results were: Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar number 1, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka number 2 and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD number 3. (at)