TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) politician Gilbert Simanjuntak expressed his doubts that the General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) will take any firm action against the alleged election violations committed by vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

“I am not sure if Bawaslu will take firm action,” Gilbert said in a statement.

During the Car Free Day event on Sunday, Dec. 3, President Jokowi’s eldest son distributed free milk. Based on the Jakarta Governor’s Regulation No. 12/2016, political activities are prohibited during the weekly Sunday morning event.

Gilbert stressed that Bawaslu should carry out its main duties and functions to maintain its dignity. “Bawaslu belongs to the nation and the people, not to certain families. They (Bawaslu) are paid by the state from the people's taxes,” he said.

Gilbert also opined that what Gibran did showed his lack of ethics as a leader, and this has been visible since his candidacy.

“Even without APK (campaign attributes), the goal was to spread [his vice presidential candidacy] because there were many people,” Gilbert added, comparing Gibran to presidential candidates former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan and former Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo who have ethics in their campaign activities.

Previously, Gibran Rakabuming was suspected of violating the campaign rules during a campaign held in Penjaringan, North Jakarta. He was seen asking children to come up to the stage and give them books and milk.

A member of the Penjaringan Election Supervisory Committee, Dito Handoko, was present at the scene. Yet, he refused to give a statement. The organizing committee’s head Akrom Saleh Akib claimed that his side had prohibited children from visiting the campaign area.

Jakarta Bawaslu member Benny Sabdo told Tempo on Saturday, Dec. 2, that the North Jakarta Bawaslu was still investigating the incident.

AISYAH AMIRA WAKANG | ADVIST KHOIRUNIKMAH

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