Cabinet Secretary Reminds ASN to Remain Neutral

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung at his remarks at multipurpose hall of building 3, Ministry of State Secretariat Office, Jakarta, Friday (10/21) (Photo by: PR/Agung)

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung Friday (10/21) reminded his staff to maintain neutrality in the upcoming general elections and simultaneous regional head elections in 2024.

“We are about to enter a political year, once again, I would like to remind everyone to maintain neutrality, since you are all not allowed to go into politics,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said at multipurpose hall of building 3, Ministry of State Secretariat Office, Jakarta.

The state civil apparatus (ASN) has the principle of neutrality which is mandated in Law Number 5 of 2014 on State Civil Apparatus. The Law states that civil servants are prohibited from becoming members and/or administrators of political parties. The ASN is also mandated not to take sides from any form of influence and not to take sides with anyone’s interests.

“You have to maintain neutrality for whatever it is, you all have sworn, pledged allegiance to become a civil servant of the state. You must be neutral,” said Pramono.

The Cabinet Secretary also underscored his staff to provide excellent service to the administration of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin.

“As the guardian of the Presidential Office, I order you, ladies and gentlemen, to continue to provide excellent service to the President and Vice President at any time, whoever they are,” he said.

In addition, Pramono also asked all his staff to remain wise and careful in social media and not to trigger pros and cons in the community.

“Please behave properly on social media for it now becomes so powerful, someone can suddenly become a hero, can suddenly become zero, there are lots of examples of them,” he remarked. (FID/UN) (GWH/MUR)