Acting Governor Of Bali Clarification Of Ganjar-Mahfud Billboards Removed When Jokowi Kunker: Temporarily Shifted, After The Event Is Installed Again

Satpol PP removed Ganjar-Mahfud billboards in the Batu Bulan area, Gianyar, Bali/PHOTO: Dafi-VOI

DENPASAR - Acting Governor of Bali Sang Made Mahendra Jaya clarified the viral video of the removal of Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD billboards during Jokowi's working visit to Gianyar, Bali. Mahendra Jaya said the removal was only temporary.

"What has been done is temporarily shifting the billboard socialization tool so that aesthetics are maintained and after the billboard socialization tool activities are completed. So I can emphasize that there is no other purpose except for activities to run comfortably," said the Acting Governor of Bali, Tuesday, October 31.

According to him, the socialization tools in the form of flags and billboards are widely installed and spread across Denpasar City along the Jokowi route to the visit location. It is certain that the billboards removed have been installed again.

"I can emphasize the fact that the revocation of the socialization tool during state visits is not the same. The socialization tool in the form of billboard flags is widely installed, spread across Denpasar City along Batu Bulan until it approaches the venue," he said.

Previously reported, the Head of the Bali Province Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP), Nyoman Rai Dharmadi explained that the revocation of the PDIP flag and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD billboards was in accordance with orders from the Acting Governor of Bali Sang Made Mahendra Jaya.

Dharmadi said that the lifting of the political party's flag was indeed carried out at three Working Visits (Kunker) or President Jokowi's activities in Gianyar Regency as well as in the Denpasar City area, Bali.

"In accordance with the orders of the Acting Governor. To be sure, I was asked to revoke the attributes of political parties at the event location," said Dharmadi, Tuesday, October 31.

Not only the flags of the PDIP Party and the billboards of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD were revoked, but other billboards from political parties were also revoked.

Such as the billboards of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) which featured the face of PSI Chairman Kaesang Pangarep and also PSI billboards which also contained pictures of President Jokowi.

"Don't think it's the PDI flag, Ganjar-Mahfud MD, it has nothing to do with it, it has nothing to do with it. (Revocation) is to build a neutral atmosphere, that's actually. That, maybe in my opinion, is because it's also true so as not to seem on the side of one (candidate)," he said.

"Including several points in Renon (Denpasar City), in Bendega there is a (photo) Kaesang, we will also revoke it. Including billboards with pictures of Mr. Jokowi who is on PSI billboards, we revoke it, it doesn't matter. That's the order, we do it according to what was conveyed to us," he said.