Bangkalan Bawaslu Gives Sanctions To Reprimand 4 ASN Supports Presidential Candidates

Documents of socialization activities regarding election supervisors by the Bangkalan Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu). (ANTARA/HO-Bawaslu Bangkalan)

BANGKALAN - The General Election Supervisory Agency of Bangkalan Regency, East Java, has sanctioned four state civil servants within the local district government for providing support to one of the presidential and vice-presidential pairs participating in the 2024 election through social media.

"The sanctions we give are a warning by reminding them not to repeat their actions," said Chairman of Bawaslu Bangkalan Ahmad Mustin as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, November 29.

He explained that in accordance with the provisions, ASN must be neutral and must not show support for any of the pairs of candidates, both presidential and vice presidential candidates as well as legislative candidates.

This neutral attitude of state servants must be carried out in every way, including on social media, such as facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

He explained that the Bawaslu Bangkalan social media monitoring team found that four ASNs were actively providing support by uploading one of the presidential and vice presidential candidates and candidates.

"On these findings, we immediately reprimanded the person concerned," he said.

Furthermore, Mustain appealed to all ASN in Bangkalan not to be actively involved in elections by supporting one of the candidates.

Regarding the findings of Bawaslu about the existence of ASNs that support certain candidates, the Acting Regent of Bangkalan Arief M.Edie said that the same thing would not happen again and other ASNs would do it.

"Never mind supporting, just liking (like) on social media in certain candidates is prohibited. Therefore, let's protect the neutrality of these ASN so that elections can take place according to the expectations and provisions of the applicable laws," he said.