REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Interior Minister Tjahjo Kumolo has reminded civil servants to remain politically neutral during the simultaneous regional elections in 2017.

Tjahjo said the ministry will cooperate with Minister of Administrative Reforms and Bureaucratic Reform (PAN-RB) to oversee the neutrality of civil servants.

"If there is civil servants involved in political practice and there is evidence, we will impose the sanctions," he said at the State Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday (21/9).

According Tjahjo, if proven to be not neutral. civil servant will be demoted to loss the position. The government has been socializing this issue to all civil servants.

Previously, in 2015, the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of PAN-RB has given sanctions to the 56 civil servants that were involved in the elections. The figure, showed that the government's reaction seriously in this issue. "Hopefully it will provide a deterrent effect," he said.