Bawaslu Banyumas Investigate Mothers Distribute Ganjar-Mahfud T-shirts During Jokowi's Visit

Video/DOK screenshot via ANTARA

PURWOKERTO - The Banyumas Regency General Election Supervisory Agency investigated the alleged violation of the campaign by two people by distributing t-shirts with pictures of presidential and vice presidential candidates Ganjar-Mahfud during President Joko Widodo's visit to Purwokerto on Tuesday (2/1).

"We have put it in the report on the results of the supervision that the distribution of campaign materials includes clothes or t-shirts," said Banyumas Regency's Coordinator of the Division for Handling Violations, Data, and Information Bawaslu, Yon Daryono, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, January 8.

He said, in the context of campaign methods, the distribution of campaign materials must have a letter of receipt of campaign notification to the police and be copied to the Banyumas Regency KPUD and Banyumas Regency Bawaslu.

However, in the distribution of the T-shirt with the picture of Ganjar-Mahfud during President Jokowi's visit, he said, there was no campaign STTP, so it was suspected that there was a violation of the campaign method.

"Only at the time of the incident, there was none of us. We only received information from other parties and after we investigated, we could not confirm who it was, whether it was the campaign or campaign team or other parties appointed as campaign implementers and registered with the KPU," he said.

The entity of two housewives who distributed a T-shirt with a picture of Ganjar-Mahfud during Jokowi's working visit is not clear. Bawaslu is still trying to identify the two housewives.

"But the incident occurred, the alleged violation of his campaign method which did not have a STTP and was copied to Bawaslu or KPU. We did not receive a copy of the STTP," he said.

Although it is still difficult to identify the faces of the housewives in the recording of the t-shirt distribution, he said, they would continue to investigate.

In a video circulating through social media, a housewife can be seen distributing a shirt with a picture of Ganjar-Mahfud to several residents in front of one of the residential complexes located on Jalan dr Angka, Purwokerto.

Based on ANTARA's search, one of the housewives in the video is known as Meilina Andriyani, a resident of Permata Hijau Housing, Purwokerto.

When met in Purwokerto, Monday (8/1) afternoon, Meilina admitted that she was one of the women in the distribution of the t-shirt.

According to him, the incident began with the habit of distributing packaged rice which was routinely carried out every Friday and the birthday of all members of his family.

"Yesterday when I saw that many drivers were sitting in front of the housing complex, I felt sorry. I also took the initiative to make food packaged in a small white and plain styrofoam, there were about 70 packs," he said.

When ready, he and his household assistant immediately took the food by riding two motorbikes to the place where the drivers were waiting for a group of farmers who took part in coaching by Jokowi at the Satria Purwokerto Sports Center.

According to him, the food was then distributed to the drivers and it was late in the afternoon. Because there are quite a lot of them, he said, the drivers were fighting over the food.

"Then someone asked me 'what is it' while pointing at the pile of t-shirts on a motorcycle. I also answered 'Can you do Ganjar-Mahfud, do you want?' and they were fighting to ask for the t-shirt," he said.

After the t-shirt ran out and there were still many who asked for it, he immediately took the stock of t-shirts at home and took them by car.

According to him, the number of shirts brought in by car was about 300 pieces and immediately ran out. In fact, he said, several people who asked to wear the t-shirt immediately while taking pictures together.

"I didn't offer the t-shirt, but they asked, yes, I gave it. Even if it was followed, it would continue to add, especially since the event was over, so the number of people who came continued to grow," he said.

Meilina admitted that she was surprised because this was a problem considering the location of the distribution of food accompanied by a t-shirt about 1.5 kilometers from the location of Jokowi's activities.

In addition, he said, his party also sometimes distributes t-shirts sent by the Ganjar-Mahfud National Winning Team (TPN) in traditional markets and there are no problems.

"Essentially, in yesterday's activity I distributed food, but because someone asked for a t-shirt, I gave it," he said.