TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Campaign attributes including banners, posters, flags, and billboards of political parties and legislative candidates have been erected all over Jakarta, causing visual pollution and making the capital look like a slum.

Jakarta's Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono responded to public complaints by claiming that the city administration has no authority to control the campaign attributes for the upcoming general elections in February.

“Bawaslu (Election Supervisory Body) approved them all, so there’s no problem,” he told journalists at Jakarta City Hall, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, January 11.

He emphasized that it was Bawaslu's authority to control campaign features that disrupted public convenience. “The Jakarta regional government does not have the right to do that.”

Despite public concerns, Heru doesn't seem to be concerned about campaign attributes that disrupt public safety and convenience. He argued that the remaining month of the election campaign period should be devoted to campaigning.

“Give them a chance to practice democracy,” said the acting governor who also serves as the Head of the Presidential Secretariat.

People have been complaining about the rampant campaign attributes installed across the city on social media platforms. In late December 2023, a billboard belonging to the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) collapsed in Kembangan, West Jakarta, injuring road users.

Bawaslu was urged to take action to address the problem.

NOVALI PANJI NUGROHO

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