Jakarta: Communication and Information Ministry spokesperson Ferdinandus Setu revealed on Monday the ministry identified 453 hoaxes throughout March 2019.
"130 of them were political hoaxes," the official said.
Indonesia will hold its first ever simultaneous general and presidential elections on April 17. Voters will elect the president, vice president as well as members of national and local legislative bodies on the same day.
According to reports from various opinion poll agencies and think tank groups, many Indonesians get at least some news from social media. As the result, they are prone to fall for political hoaxes.
The Communication and Information Ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding with the General Elections Commission (KPU) and Elections Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) to tackle political hoaxes. The government has also urged the public to report any hoaxes.
"The number of identified hoaxes is increasing ahead of April 17," he added.
According to the latest Roy Morgan Poll on the Indonesian Presidency conducted in February 2019 with 1,101 Indonesian electors aged 17 or more, the incumbent is still on track for a clear victory at the upcoming presidential election.
According to the opinion poll, the incumbent had the support of 57 percent of Indonesian electors in February, down 1 percent from January.
On the other hand, opposition leader Prabowo Subianto had the support of 43 percent of Indonesian voters in February, up 1 percent compared to the previous month.
This year, as many as 192 million people will be eligible to vote this year. In addition to that, around 800 thousand polling stations will be opened on the voting day.
In order to run for presidency, the incumbent is endorsed by PDIP, Golkar Party, PKB, PPP, NasDem Party, Hanura Party, PKPI, PSI and PBB. In the meantime, his competitor is supported by Gerindra Party, Democratic Party, PAN, PKS and Berkarya Party.
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