Menpan RB: ASN Still Has The Right To Vote In The Voice, Not In The Media Or Other Channels

JAKARTA - Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (Menpan RB) Abdullah Azwar Anas again appealed to the state civil apparatus (ASN) to maintain the neutrality of the 2024 General Election.

According to him, the neutrality of ASN is important in democratic parties so that public services are not hampered or can be carried out optimally in the political year.

"Netrality has the principle of being impartial, free from influence, and implicit. If ASN is not neutral, public services will be hampered because ASN's performance becomes unprofessional," said Anas in Banyuwangi, Monday, December 18, quoted by Antara.

Menpan RB in a written statement received in Jakarta emphasized that the inequality of ASN would be very detrimental to the state, government and society. Unprofessional ASN in elections will cause government targets at the local and national levels to not be achieved properly.

The obligation of ASN to maintain neutrality has been stipulated in Law Number 20 of 2023 concerning ASN. Netality is defined as the impartiality of ASN from all forms of influence and impartial to other interests outside the interests of the nation and state.

"ASN still has the right to vote, but it can only be given in ballot booths, not in media or other channels," said Anas.

ASN, said Anas, needs to pay close attention to potential neutrality disturbances that can occur in every stage of the election, including the General Election of Regional Heads.

He reminded that in the democratic party event there were several areas that were often violated, ranging from participating in campaign agendas, facilitating campaign activities, to using social media that supported election participants.

"ASN should be careful in using social media, especially in the current election campaign atmosphere. We urge ASN not to campaign or socialize on social media in the form of posts (uploads), comments, sharing links, or giving like (like) icons," Anas said.

On the other hand, the government has also issued a Joint Decree (SKB) on Guidelines for the Guidance and Supervision of Civil Servant Netrality in the Implementation of General Elections and Regional Head Elections.

The SKB, which was signed together with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the State Civil Service Agency (BKN), the State Civil Apparatus Commission (KASN), and Bawaslu, were issued to ensure the maintenance of ASN neutrality.

Anas added that the SKB aims to encourage legal certainty against the handling of violations of the principle of neutrality of ASN in order to organize quality elections. ASN that violates neutrality will be subject to sanctions.

"Sanctions given range from moral sanctions, moderate disciplinary punishment, severe disciplinary punishment, to dishonorably dismissed," said Anas.