ASN Not Neutral Ahead Of The Election Will Be Sanctioned With Open-Closed Morals To Cut Tukin

MANADO - Expert Staff to the Minister of Social Affairs and Inter-Institutional Relations, Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), Togap Simangunsong explained the sanctions against state civil servants (ASN) who are not neutral ahead of the election.

In the 2024 Simultaneous Election And Election Insecurity Launch event, Strategic Issues: ASN Neutrality, Togap said there were two sanctions for non-neutral ASN, namely moral sanctions and disciplinary penalties.

"The sanction is that civil servants who violate the code of ethics are subject to moral sanctions. This is a bit gentle," said Togap at the event held by the General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) in Manado, North Sulawesi, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, September 21.

These moral sanctions are as regulated in Articles 15 paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of Government Regulation (PP) Number 42 of 2004 concerning Corps Mental Development and Civil Servant Code of Ethics.

Moral sanctions are divided into two, namely open and closed moral sanctions. Open moral sanctions are moral sanctions given by the authorized agency and announced openly.

"The moral sanctions are closed, moral sanctions imposed by the competent authorities and announced in a closed and limited manner," he continued.

The sanctions for disciplinary punishment are also divided into two, namely moderate disciplinary punishment and severe disciplinary punishment. Both are regulated in PP Number 94 of 2021 concerning Civil Servant Discipline.

Togap detailed that the moderate disciplinary punishment is a 25 percent cut in performance allowances for 6 months; 25 percent cut in performance for 9 months; or 25 percent cut in allowances for 12 months.

Meanwhile, severe disciplinary penalties consist of lower-level demotion for 12 months; release from office to executive office for 12 months; and honorary dismissal not at his own request as a civil servant.

Togap explained the type of violation of the ASN code of ethics and neutrality discipline which is contained in a joint decree (SKB) signed by five ministries/agencies on September 22, 2022.

Several forms of violations, he said, were to put up banners / billboards / other props related to prospective election participants and simultaneous elections. Furthermore, socialization / social media / online campaigns to prospective candidates.

In addition, attending the declaration/companye of prospective pairs and providing active action/support. Following the declaration/companye for husbands/wife of prospective candidates, as well as being members and/or administrators of political parties.

The candidates in question are not only presidential and vice presidential candidates, but also candidates for members of the DPR, DPD, DPRD, governors and deputy governors, regents and deputy regents, as well as mayors and deputy mayors.

"Posing on social media or other media that can be accessed by the public, take a group photo. This is a group photo because they like to take pictures with figures. Be careful, photos that have been 20 years ago or 10 years ago or the past can sometimes be picked up," said Togap.

The actions that tarnish the neutrality of other ASNs are making decisions or actions that can benefit or harm political parties or candidates or candidate pairs in the pre-, during, and after the campaign period.

"Being a team of experts or winners or consultants or other names for prospective candidates or pairs of candidates for election or election participants before the determination of the election or election participants," he said.