T

he Banten branch of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPID) says it will limit the number and duration of advertisements that political candidates can place on television and radio.

“From experience during mayoral elections, we have found that most candidates violate the time limit for television and radio ads,” KPID chairman Muhibudin said over the weekend.

Muhibudin said that a National Elections Commission (KPU) regulation stipulated that each candidate could not place more than 10 political TV ads lasting no more than 10 seconds per day, and no more than 10 spots on radio lasting a maximum of 60 seconds.

In line with the KPU regulation, the KPID will put a limit on political ads placed by candidates. The commission has also decided to allow each candidate to air a 10-minute speech on television and a 60-minute question-and-answer session with voters.

“We will ask the Banten Elections Commission to familiarize the candidates, their campaign teams and their supporters with the regulation because that’s the only thing that we can do. We don’t have the authority to deal with them directly,” he said.

He said KPID would closely monitor how candidates campaign on the media and observe whether all candidates had equal opportunity in media campaigning.

Muhibudin said the KPID had yet to discover any violations in media campaigning.

“We will take stern measures if we find messages in campaigns contain materials that could increase hostility among members of the community,” he added.

The KPUD Banten announced on Aug. 26 that three tickets were eligible to contest the Banten gubernatorial election, slated for Oct. 22.

The candidates are incumbent Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah and her running mate, actor-turned-politician Rano Karno; Tangerang Mayor Wahidin Halim and running mate Irna Narulita, the wife of former Pandeglang regent Dimyati Natakusumah; and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker Jazuli Juwaini and running mate Makmun Muzakki.

The Atut-Rano ticket is supported by a coalition of several major political parties including the Golkar Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB).

Wahidin-Irna was nominated by the Democratic Party, while Jazuli-Makmun were endorsed by the PKS, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Star Reform Party (PBR).