Civil servants' partiality can impede public services: Minister Anas

The minister emphasized that civil servants should avoid any acts that can break their neutrality during elections, including regional elections.

Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PAN RB) Minister Abdullah Azwar Anas reiterated the need for civil servants remaining neutral during the 2024 General Elections, as he believes that bureaucrats' political partiality could negatively impact public services.

"Neutrality stands on the principle of impartiality. Civil servants who fail to remain neutral are not professional because they can disrupt public services," he remarked in Banyuwangi, East Java, as cited from a statement received from the PAN RB Ministry here on Monday.

The obligation of civil servants to maintain their neutrality is outlined in Law No. 20 of 2023 concerning civil servants.

"It should be noted that civil servants do have the right to vote. However, they should exercise their rights only in voting booths, meaning they are not supposed to voice their political stances on social media or other channels," he affirmed.

The minister emphasized that civil servants should avoid any acts that can break their neutrality during elections, including regional elections.

Anas called on civil servants to refrain from committing various acts, such as participating in campaign agendas, facilitating campaign activities, and endorsing election candidates on social media.

"Civil servants must act carefully on social media, particularly during a campaign period, like now. We would like to encourage civil servants to avoid uploading and sharing campaign posts as well as commenting and pressing the 'like' button on such posts," he stated.

He further noted that the government had issued a joint decree on the guidance and supervision of civil servants' neutrality during the general and regional elections.

The minister remarked that the joint decree is an instrument for ensuring legal certainty toward civil servants found failing to remain neutral. For the sake of realizing quality elections, sanctions will be imposed on civil servants violating neutrality, he stressed.

"The sanctions might take the form of moral sanctions, moderate- and severe-level disciplinary penalties, and dishonorable discharge," he pointed out.