Rejected by Students, Implementation of DPR Tatib Still Rolling

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Despite opposition from students, the DPR continues to implement the DPR Rules of Procedure by evaluating the leaders of the institutions it has chosen. Commission II of the DPR insists on submitting the evaluation results of the leaders of the Honorary Council of Election Organizers or DKPP to the DPR leadership. The DPR hands over the decision on the replacement of officials to the government.

Previously, on February 11, 2025, Commission II of the House of Representatives held a closed evaluation meeting with all leaders of the DKPP. The meeting was a follow-up to the results of the revision of the House of Representatives' Rules of Procedure, which had granted new authority to the House of Representatives to evaluate the leaders of the institutions it had selected.

However, this action by the DPR triggered protests from the public, especially among students. On Monday (17/2/2025) afternoon, thousands of students held a demonstration titled "Dark Indonesia" in front of the Horse Statue, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Gambir, Central Jakarta. They submitted 13 demands to the government, one of which was to reject the revision of the DPR's Rules of Procedure, which was considered highly problematic and could lead to arbitrariness by the DPR institution.

We leave everything to the mechanisms that have been regulated by the government. That we can evaluate. I think that is a certainty.

Instead of listening to the demands of the students, the leaders of Commission II of the House of Representatives along with several members of Commission II of the House of Representatives held a press conference at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday (18/2/2025), which essentially highlighted various mistakes of the DKPP and the reasons why an evaluation of the DKPP is necessary.

The Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the House of Representatives, Bahtra Banong, stated that the DKPP must be evaluated because many cases are stalled. These cases are claimed to have been submitted to the DKPP but have not been promptly followed up, causing public unrest. Therefore, Commission II of the House of Representatives has noted that the DKPP should resolve incoming cases or reports in a short period of time.

Then, continued Bahtra, Commission II of the House of Representatives has also reminded the Election Organizers Ethics Council (DKPP) to be free from political intervention. Every decision of the DKPP and the results of its hearings must not be influenced by political decisions from any source.

"They have to be objective. They have to make decisions as objectively as possible," Bahtra said.

According to Bahtra, so far, there has been no recommendation to change the leadership of the DKPP. However, he acknowledged that various evaluations of the DKPP have been submitted to the leadership of the DPR.

"Usually once we convey (the evaluation), there will definitely be a response. Until now, there hasn't been one," he said.

Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the House of Representatives Dede Yusuf added that his party evaluated the DKPP because there was an impression of selective action in investigating cases. He also mentioned that the DKPP's attitude could disrupt the government.

"Why? The context is that there is an inauguration (of regional heads), some of which have already taken place. Well, in our opinion, this evaluation needs to be done so that lawsuits do not arise after years. That is one of our concerns. Then fellow members (of Commission II of the DPR) also explained why in the regions there are (cases) that are continued in court and some are not. Well, that seems to be selective," he said.

However, Dede emphasized that until now, Commission II of the DPR has not issued a recommendation to replace the DKPP leadership. He said that the DPR has left the decision to replace officials to the government.

"Up until now, there has been no shift whatsoever as some people have said there would be a shift. No. Because we leave everything to the mechanism that has been set by the government. That we can evaluate. I think that is inevitable," he said.

There are at least three names of DKPP leaders proposed by the DPR. They are Ratna Dewi Pettalolo, I Dewa Kade Wiarsa Raka Sandi, and Muhammad Tio Aliansyah. The terms of office of the three will only end in 2027.

I Dewa Kade Wiarsa Raka Sandi was reluctant to comment on the notes given by Commission II of the DPR as a press conference, Tuesday. According to him, various evaluations from Commission II of the DPR have been answered by DKPP Chairman Heddy Lugito.

"The permission regarding this matter from the Chairman of DKPP has been responded to. That's basically it. For now, there is nothing additional from me. Thank you," said Raka.

Meanwhile, Heddy Lugito when met after an evaluation meeting with Commission II of the DPR on February 11, 2025, denied that he was considered too slow in completing cases submitted to the DKPP. He also disagreed with the assumption that the DKPP was selective in cases. According to him, all cases have been processed according to procedures and in the order of cases submitted.

"I don't understand which decision, yeah. This, you know, we do everything according to the cases we handle, according to the order of cases that come in, that's all. That's what we always do," said Heddy.