TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo issued an instruction on official attire and neatness of the state civil apparatus (ASN) at his office.

“Yes, the instruction does exist,” said Bachtiar, head of Home Affairs Ministry’s Information Center when contacted on Friday, December 14.

The instruction is listed in the 2018 Home Affairs Minister’s Instruction concerning Orderly Use of Official Attire and ASN Neatness in the Home Affairs Ministry and the National Agency for Border Management. Tjahjo signed the instruction on December 4.

In the instruction, Minister Tjahjo ordered the male ASN to have neat-short hair and not be painted in colors. The tidiness of mustaches, sideburns, and beards must also be maintained. The long pants worn must reach the ankles.

For female ASN, the Minister ordered them to have neat and colorless hair. For those who wear hijab, it must be inserted into the collar and in accordance with the color of the official attire. The hijab must be without motif.

Minister Tjahjo also instructed the Secretary-General of the Home Affairs Ministry and the Chancellor of the Domestic Government Institute to impose sanctions on ASN and non-permanent officials who were proven to violate instruction based on Regulation No. 6 of 2016 concerning official attire of civil servant.

Bachtiar said the instruction was made so the ASN will pay attention to aspects of neatness. “There is no prohibition, only neatness,” he said.

However, Bachtiar said his ministry would listen to people’s aspirations.