DIY Bawaslu Asks Bacaleg To Maintain Political Ethics Ahead Of The 2024 General Election, Don't Install Performing Equipment Before Entering Campaign Period

Illustration of motorcyclists passing in front of campaign props (APK) on the Taman Narogong road, Bekasi, Tuesday. BETWEEN PHOTOS/Paramayuda

YOGYAKARTA - The Yogyakarta Special Region Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu DIY) has asked prospective legislative members of the 2024 General Election to maintain political ethics by not installing campaign props before entering the campaign period. "When it comes to elections, you have to refer to regulations. So ethics is an important thing that must be upheld," said DIY Bawaslu Chairman Mohammad Najib when contacted in Yogyakarta, Antara, Sunday, July 30. According to Najib, referring to the General Elections Commission (PKPU) regulations, election participants are prohibited from holding campaigns before the start of the election campaign period. Meanwhile, based on PKPU Number 3 of 2022, the 2024 election campaign period will take place from 28 November 2023 to 10 February 2024. "They cannot invite them because they have not entered the campaign period. The principle of law prohibits campaigns before time," he said. However, said Najib, the DIY Bawaslu has not been able to take direct action if there are political parties or legislators who put up banners or billboards with campaign nuances to posters on the highway before the 2024 election campaign schedule. "We have not been able to make it a legal subject. What we can do is still appeal. If we look at the regulations, it is not yet in the campaign stage, there are no candidates," he said. Najib said that the violation of the installation of banners or campaign props did not comply with the current rules on the highway, which can only be dealt with through regional regulations related to billboards. "Everything should have a regional regulation in each region that regulates that," said Najib. Jogja Corruption Watch (JCW) activist Baharuddin Kamba said that billboards and banners of legislative candidates as well as presidential candidates decorate the streets of almost all regencies/cities in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. "We consider that there is a potential violation of the rampant billboards, banners, and the like displayed on the corner of the road, both in the city and in rural areas," he said. Kamba hopes that the candidates for both legislature and future presidential candidates will always comply with existing regulations.

"For banners and billboards that are not licensed, they must be disciplined indiscriminately," said Baharuddin Kamba.