TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The State Civilian Bureaucracy Commission (KASN) deputy head Irham Dilmy said that neutrality of state apparatus (ASN) including civil servant (PNS) during elections is regulated in Government Regulation (PP) No. 53 of 2010 concerning civil servants, on which they are barred from joining campaigns.

“Based on PP 53/2010, there are two sanctions; moderate and severe sanction. No light one,” said Irham via a phone call on Sunday, March 24.

Irham explained that the severe sanction will be a dismissal without honors, while the moderate one is a demotion for three years. “This includes postponement in promotions and salary increase, it may vary,” he added.

The Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu), Irham continued, would decide sanctions for ASN who violates the policy and send a notion to the commission. The KASN would then issue a binding recommendation letter to officials of employee affairs to impose the sanction.

On Friday, March 22, Bawaslu member Rahmat Badja asserted that ASN must maintain neutrality in all processes of election and they prohibited to join electoral campaigns.

“The State Personnel Board (BKN) rules that civil servants are banned to attend campaigns, even on weekends,” said Badja at the KPU office, adding that his board would instantly handle reports regarding the matter.

IRSYAN HASYIM