Report civil servants taking sides during 2024 elections: Ministry

there will be sanctions, from the lightest to the most severe, including criminal charges

Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Abdullah Azwar Anas urged the public to report civil servants taking sides with any groups or parties in the 2024 General Elections to the Civil Service Commission.

"The public can report them to the commission. It will be processed later," Anas remarked here on Friday.

Light to severe sanctions and also criminal charges can be imposed on civil servants found siding with any groups or parties participating in the election.

He stressed the importance of state servants not taking sides in the election held once in five years, as it is an official mandate given by the state.

The ministry has collaborated with the National Police Headquarters, General Election Supervisory Agency, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Sivil Service Commission in processing state servants found to be unneutral.

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"If there is a violation, report it to the commission, and there will be sanctions, from the lightest to the most severe, including criminal charges," Anas emphasized.

To ensure the neutrality of civil servants, the government has issued a joint decree concerning the Guidance and Supervision of Civil Servants' Neutrality in the Implementation of General Elections.

The decree was signed by Minister Abdullah Azwar Anas, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, National Civil Service Agency, Sivil Service Commission, and General Election Supervisory Agency.

The mandatory neutrality of civil servants has been stated in Law No. 5 of 2014 that prohibits civil servants from becoming members and/or administrators of political parties.

Meanwhile, the joint decree also prohibits civil servants from uploading pictures with 10 certain poses to ensure their neutrality. 

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