The implementation of the 2020 Simultaneous Regional Head Election (Pilkada) was marked by the neutrality of the state civil apparatus (ASN), both during the nomination and determination of candidates and during the campaign period. However, the critical aspects of the ASN’s neutrality are rarely discussed.
Research Center for Politics and Government (PolGov), Department of Politics and Government (DPP) UGM, through the Big Data Analytics Laboratory, conducted a big data analysis on the neutrality of ASN in the 2020 Simultaneous Elections. The data was obtained through tracking online media portals spanning seven months between April 4 to November 6, 2020.
Wegik Prasetyo, a PolGov researcher, presented the results of the analysis in a webinar entitled “ASN Neutrality in the 2020 Regional Head Elections” on Monday (16/11) last afternoon. This webinar was broadcast live through the Youtube channel of the Department of Politics and Government – Universitas Gadjah Mada.
Based on the analysis results, Wegik explained that the issue of ASN’s neutrality received quite extensive media coverage. There was a total of 8,662 articles from 189 online media portals during the data collection period. According to him, the data indicates a strong public concern about the issue.
Wegik also explained that the data shows that ASN with regional control has a great opportunity to take actions that violate the principle of neutrality. It is in line with data from the State Civil Service Agency (BKN), which states that the sub-district includes many violations (including functional officials, high leadership positions, administrators, and implementers). In addition, regionally, regencies/municipalities receive the most attention compared to provinces. The regents/mayors’ attention is greater than the governor’s.
Wegik also found several violations of neutrality on social media by ASN. He said the neutrality was shown by evidence of ASN liking, sharing, and even making candidate campaign posts.
Wegik’s latest finding from the analysis is that there is a shift in neutrality in the registration and campaign periods. During the registration period, neutrality is often associated with the relation of candidacy, whether the ASN approaches the political party or the political party approaches the ASN. Meanwhile, during the campaign period, neutrality is associated with indications of siding with one of the candidates.
Regarding media coverage, Dr. Abdul Gaffar Karim, DPP UGM Lecturer, who was present as a speaker, responded that it also depends on the value of each region. He said the media’s interest mainly was purely exposure. Meanwhile, for more vulnerable areas, officials may be in control there.
Then, Sutrisno Wati, a member of the Bawaslu Yogyakarta, who was also present as a speaker, said that the results of the PolGov analysis were in line with her research. The findings are also consistent that the most complaints related to the neutrality of ASN are the provision of support through social media, which is as many as 218 suspected cases. Another complaint regarding neutrality, which is relatively high, is ASN attending gatherings, socialization, and social service for the candidate pair or political party.
Lastly, Professor Agus Pramusinto, Chairman of the ASN Commission, said that from his experience with ASN and politicians, neutrality seemed ambiguous. From ASN, they always say that they have no choice because politicians always drag them around when there is an election. Meanwhile, politicians admit that this is not their fault. It is because when the politician was running for office, according to his side, it was the ASN who came in droves to offer support.
“The most important thing is showing up, if successful, one day they can get a position. Or at least, they feel they have a connection so that their career path is facilitated,” he explained.
Agus also expressed his views regarding the waiver of voting rights for ASN to solve this neutrality. He represented the ASN Commission, rejecting the idea because what the candidates were pursuing was not just votes when voting, but the resources owned by ASN like the example above.
“Moreover, if you consider the quality of voters, ASN is still considered well-educated people. If they are deprived of their right to vote, they will be vulnerable because the rest of the lower class are more easily influenced. Therefore, we have decided that ASN may cast their voices, but only in the voting booth. Not on social media or even being a campaigner. If you have become a campaigner and have a party membership card, we suggest you resign,” he concluded.
Source: https://ugm.ac.id/id/berita/20377-menilik-isu-netralitas-asn-dalam-pilkada-serentak-2020
