KPU Declares Food Donations as Improper Campaign Material

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU) announced that food or grocery donations are not a proper campaign material.

Valid campaign materials according to the commission are brochures, pamphlets, posters, stickers, t-shirts, keychains, tumblers, headbands, umbrellas, and other goods with values less than Rp100,000.

"Meanwhile, groceries, cooking oil, rice, and food with values less than Rp100,000 are not included in KPU-regulated campaign materials," said KPU Jakarta Member Astri Megatari in a coordination meeting on the general elections campaign and budget campaign in Jakarta yesterday.

According to Astri, grocery donation must be distributed without any self-identification of the running candidates, such as serial numbers or pictures. "Since it is not categorized as a campaign material. Just comply with the KPU regulation," Astri said.

The Chairman of KPU Jakarta Wahyu Dinata explained that campaign materials are provided in Article 33(2) of the KPU Regulation No. 15 of 2023. 

General Elections Law No. 7 of 2023 also provided that campaign organizers and/or campaigning teams of the candidates are forbidden to promise or distribute money or other materials as an incentive for people directly or indirectly except for certain attributes, food, drinks, and transportation.

Wahyu also said that KPU Jakarta was not authorized to sanction any violations. "Sanction is under the authority of Bawaslu (The General Election Supervisory Agency)," Wahyu said.

Meanwhile, the campaign period will begin on November 28, 2023, and end on February 10, 2024. If a second round of the general elections is needed, the additional campaign period starts from June 2 to 22, 2024.

ANTARA