Take Note! PANRB Minister Tjahjo Kumolo Prohibits Civil Servants From Becoming FPI Members

Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) Tjahjo Kumolo. (Photo: Doc. KemenPANRB)

JAKARTA - The Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) Tjahjo Kumolo emphasized that the state civil apparatus (ASN) is prohibited from becoming members of community organizations that have been decided by the government as a banned organization. In addition, ASNs are also prohibited from being directly or indirectly involved in the activities of these banned organizations.

"ASN is inaugurated and the oath is taken to be loyal to the legitimate government, Pancasila, and the 1945 Constitution. So that if ASN is an active member of the prohibited organization it is prohibited in principle," said Minister Tjahjo in a written statement, quoted on Thursday, December 31.

Tjahjo said that included in the banned organizations were the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), and community organizations that were recently banned by the government were the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). ASNs who are involved as members, participate in activities, and even just use the attributes of the prohibited organization will be subject to sanctions.

This is because these organizations have been banned, have been frozen, and are not allowed to carry out any activities.

"Indonesia is a country based on the rule of law. What is the government's decision must be followed by all citizens, especially ASN," said Tjahjo.

Minister Tjahjo's statement was in response to the statement of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD who declared FPI to be a prohibited community organization.

The basis for the prohibition of FPI as a community organization is stated in the Joint Decree (SKB) of the Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Law and Human Rights, Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Attorney General, Chief of Police of the Republic of Indonesia, and Head of the National Counterterrorism Agency concerning the Prohibition of Activities, Use of Symbols and Attributes and Termination of the Activities of the Islamic Defenders Front.

Furthermore, Tjahjo explained, he would issue a circular prohibiting ASN from being actively involved and not using the attributes of organizations that are not registered with the government, as well as organizations that have been designated as banned organizations.

"If it is violated, the ASN will certainly be subject to sanctions, both disciplinary sanctions, criminal sanctions, and other sanctions," he explained.

The circular will be addressed to all government agencies related to the prohibition and the supervision system to ASN will be submitted to the Civil Service Officer (PPK) of each agency. One thing that was emphasized was that ASN was bound by state and government decisions.

As a firm step, the PANRB Ministry together with the State Civil Apparatus Commission and the State Civil Service Agency hold a hearing for the Civil Service Advisory Board (BAPEK). The trial which is held regularly decides sanctions for civil servants who violate the code of ethics, to crimes such as corruption, drug abuse and involvement in the radicalism movement.

Firmly, Minister Tjahjo said that ASN must not be involved in issues of terrorism and radicalism, be involved in areas prone to corruption and drug abuse.

"So if there are ASNs secretly caught in the act or there is strong evidence not only from the PPK but from public reports, reports from friends of the press, it can be processed in the BAPEK trial," explained Tjahjo.

Sanctions for civil servants who are involved in the above are various. Starting from disciplinary sanctions, demotion, being non-assigned, and even being fired.

"ASN must be perpendicular to whatever has become the government's decision. ASN's job is to work productively to serve the community well," he concluded.