TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Jakarta election battle goes on as netizens ignore cooling-off period
The first day of the regional election cooling-off period on Sunday saw the battle for Jakarta’s top post continue to rage, with netizens ignoring the General Elections Commission (KPU) request to keep the three days before the election free of disputation.
Change Size
General Elections Commission (KPU) commissioners Arief Budiman (right) and Hadar Nafis Gumay show examples of tactile ballots for blind voters in a press conference at the KPU office in Jakarta on Jan. 4. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
The first day of the regional election cooling-off period on Sunday saw the battle for Jakarta’s top post continue to rage, with netizens ignoring the General Elections Commission (KPU) request to keep the three days before the election free of disputation.
On Twitter, many accounts and buzzers are still tweeting campaign-related posts, either endorsing or mocking the respective candidates. As of Sunday evening, the social media giant had several hashtags related to the candidates.
Many netizens supporting incumbent pair Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama — Djarot Saiful Hidayat tagged #BadjaKembaliKerja to mark the first day of the pair returning to office as active governor and deputy governor.
The occasion was turned into campaign material by the pair’s supporters.
Other netizens used the hashtag to mock Ahok, writing that he was should have been suspended as governor because of his ongoing trial for blasphemy.
Buzzers endorsing Ahok were also still active encouraging netizens to vote for him.
Meanwhile hashtag #GuePilihAgus was also going viral, with posters endorsing the Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono-Sylviana Murni ticket, mostly posting photos of the pair. The hashtag recorded around 7,200 tweets as of Sunday evening.
There is also the hashtag #SaatnyaJakartaBerSATU. Many netizens refer to Agus-Sylvi as candidate No. 1 and satu means one. Some have used it to satirize the pair by undermining its programs.
Supporters of Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno have also enthusiastically joined the fray, with some promoting the pair’s OKOCE entrepreneur center.
The KPU has prohibited all campaign-related activities from Feb. 12 to 14. Under Article 187 on the 2016 Regional Elections Law, anyone who campaigns beyond the period determined by the KPU could face a maximum three years’ imprisonment or fines of up to Rp 1 million (US$75.07).
In addition, a 2016 KPU regulation stipulates that during the cooling-off period, no mass media or broadcasting institution may broadcast ads, candidate track records or political party statements, either negative or endorsing, about any of the candidates.
However, it appears voters’ social media accounts fall outside this prohibition.
KPU commissioner Hadar Nafis Gumay acknowledged the commission had no authority to stop campaigning on social media and could do nothing other than call on people not to campaign during the cooling-off period.
“We admit that current regulations aren’t enough to cover this matter. We’ll find a way in the future,” Hadar said.
Political communications expert Hendri Satrio of Paramadina University said no one could stop netizens because social media use was personal and free expression was guaranteed under the Constitution.
“The prohibition only applies to the candidates and official supporters and volunteers, but for individuals, it’s difficult. And this can influence voters, because they still have Monday and Tuesday to think before deciding whether they will stick with or change their choice,” Hendri said.
Hendri added that social media would not be the only influence on voters, but also personal messengers, such as messenger groups on WhatsApp, Line and Blackberry Messenger. “They’re also powerful,” he said.
