Prohibition Of ASN Likes, Shares And Comments On Creating Peaceful Elections

Illustration - Giving "like" on social media. (ANTARA/Pixabay-The Digital Artist)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the DKI Jakarta General Election Commission, Wahyu Dinata, assessed that the ban on state civil servants to like, comment, and share uploads from certain social media presidential candidates (candidates) during the campaign period could create peaceful general elections. "If you like, share, comment can direct partiality, I think (this rule, ed.) is correct," Wahyu told ANTARA in Jakarta, Tuesday. Wahyu said that the community not only assessed the neutrality of the person who interacted with certain presidential candidates' uploads, but there was a possibility that the community would view it as the alignment of ASN as a whole. Moreover, ASN is obliged to serve the community regardless of their respective backgrounds. He views that the calm of the election can be disrupted if ASN sided with certain presidential candidates. “ So, ASN anywhere must be neutral. Cannot take sides, especially regarding their services,” said Wahyu. Separately, DKI Jakarta KPU member Dody Wijaya said the ban was a reasonable limitation in democracy. He gave an example of a ban on campaigns in places of worship, as well as a ban on the involvement of children in campaigns. The restrictions, said Dody, aim to create a good, peaceful and free election atmosphere. The free election he meant was not affected by the choice of the community by the choice of ASN. "“So that ASN, stakeholders or officials who have influence, have power, have power relations that do not affect the preferences of choice from the public," said Dody. Thus, it supports restrictions aimed at maintaining the neutrality of ASN. Previously, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government strengthened the neutrality of the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) to realize the objective and accountable implementation of the 2024 General Election (Pemilu) in DKI Jakarta. As a form of effort to strengthen the neutrality of ASN, the Provincial Government (Pemprov) of DKI held a socialization of ASN neutrality at the City Hall of DKI Province, Central Jakarta, on Friday, August 25. This rule is stated in the Joint Decree (SKB) Number 2 of 2022 concerning Guidelines for the Guidance and Supervision of Netrality for State Civil Apparatus Employees in the Implementation of General Elections and Elections.

One of the things that are regulated as a form of violation is to make uploads, comments, share, like, join the winning group of candidates for president/vice president/DPR/DPD/DPRD/gubernur/deputy governor/regent/deputy regent/mayor/deputy mayor.