Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Deputy Speaker of the DPR Feels Like a Minister

When government policies draw public protests and President Prabowo Subianto revokes them, it is not the ministers or the President's aides in the Palace who release the information to the public. Instead, explanations often come from Prabowo's close associate from the legislative "chamber," namely the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and also the Daily Chairman of the Gerindra Party, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad. Why does this happen? Is it appropriate?

The long queues of residents to obtain 3-kilogram (kg) LPG gas have become a common sight in many places as a result of the transition in the regulation of subsidized gas distribution. Seeing the public's anxiety and the heavy flow of criticism, President Prabowo Subianto instructed the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, to reopen the sale of 3 kg LPG by retailers.

The latest instruction from the President was delivered by Sufmi Dasco Ahmad before the Plenary Session of the DPR, at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (4/2/2025). Suddenly before the meeting, news spread that Dasco would give a press statement regarding 3 kg LPG gas. The media quickly approached and interviewed him around the Nusantara 2 Building, near the location of the plenary session.

"President Prabowo has instructed the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources to reactivate retailers selling 3-kilogram LPG while regulating retailers to become sub-depot agents partially, then processing administration and other matters so that retailers as sub-depot agents, the price of LPG sold to the public is not too expensive," said Dasco.

Dasco stated that the latest instruction was the result of his communication with the President on Monday night. "After communicating with the President, the President then instructed the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to, as of today (Tuesday), reactivate the existing retailers to sell as usual," said Dasco.

A member of the House of Representatives from the Banten III electoral district (Tangerang City/Regency and South Tangerang City) also clarified that the policy did not come from the President. "But considering the situation and conditions, the President intervened to instruct that the retailers could resume selling," he added.

It did not stop there. After the Plenary Meeting, when attending the Presidential Palace in Jakarta to meet the President's summons, Dasco deliberately entered through the gate on Jalan Veteran III, which can be directly accessed by journalists. Usually, he more often meets the President through the side gate, around Wisma Negara, which is not accessible to journalists.

I didn't know I was told to come this way today, but it turns out there are a lot of journalists.

Even long before Dasco's arrival, information about his visit had already been widely broadcasted to the media. Then, when he finally arrived at the Palace, once again, he openly welcomed questions regarding the changes in the distribution policy of "melon" gas from the President and explained the results of his communication with the President.

"I often communicate with Mr. President. I didn't know I was asked to come this way today, it turns out there are many journalists," he said with a smile.

Dasco's appearance conveyed the President's "fresh" policies after the policies of his government drew public protests, not just this time.

About two months ago, when the public was worried about the government's policy plan to increase the VAT rate by 12 percent, Dasco was also the first to convey to the public that the President had cancelled the rate increase.

He conveyed this after meeting the President at the Presidential Palace with a number of other members of the DPR on December 5, 2024. At that time, he said that the increase in VAT rates was limited only to luxury goods, as was the idea conveyed by the President in the meeting.

So, it was not Finance Minister Sri Mulyani or Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto who conveyed it to the public, but Dasco.

Even before the meeting, Dasco had already signaled that only luxury goods would have their VAT rates increased. The signal emerged during the DPR Plenary Meeting when Dasco responded to an interruption from a member of the DPR from the PDI-P faction, Rieke Diah Pitaloka, regarding the VAT rate.

"Increase the luxury goods tax by 12 percent, reduce taxes that are useful for the community. That's the proposal. That's the proposal, do you agree or not," asked Dasco, which was answered with shouts of agreement from the members of the DPR present.

Serving as the Daily Chair of Gerindra since the end of September 2020, the political party (parpol) founded and led by Prabowo, Dasco and Prabowo's closeness is undeniable.

This closeness was also seen after Prabowo was confirmed to have won the 2024 Presidential Election. He was appointed as Chair of the Prabowo Government Transition Task Force.

With this position, he not only oversees the formation of ministries/institutions in Prabowo's government but also plays a big role in the process of searching for ministerial/deputy ministerial candidates.

His vital role was deliberately displayed when President Prabowo announced his aides at the Presidential Palace after taking the oath of office and taking office as president, October 20, 2024. He stood on the left side of President Prabowo when the ministers and deputy ministers of the Red and White Cabinet were announced, with Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka on Prabowo's right.

Quoted from the official website of the Gerindra Party Faction of the DPR, Dasco's career in politics began with his closeness to fellow business partner Fadli Zon, a Gerindra cadre who is currently the Minister of Culture.

Dasco is also mentioned as one of the figures directly involved in the establishment of the Gerindra Party. His career in Gerindra began in 2008 after gaining the trust to serve as Chairman of the Central Leadership Council (DPP) of the Gerindra Party and Chairman of the Gerindra Cadre and Institutional Organization.

His political career skyrocketed after he successfully passed to Senayan as a member of the DPR in the 2014 Election. Furthermore, his career continued to soar until he became Deputy Speaker of the DPR 2019-2024 and continued in the 2024-2029 period.

The question is, even though he is now known as Prabowo's "right hand" and of course often receives the latest "whispers" from the President, to what extent can Dasco, who is in the legislative "chamber", be like a minister or spokesperson for the President and explain changes in policy from the President?

Dasco when met at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Friday (7/2/2024), argued that his communication with President Prabowo before the policy that caused public unrest, was in his capacity as the leader of the DPR who represents the people. The results of his communication with the President were then conveyed to the public.

"We can convey this to our people to calm the people down. "So, I never precede the ministers, so I am still in my respective chambers, as the leader of the DPR, I represent the people," he said.

Member of the House of Representatives from the Gerindra Faction who is also Deputy Secretary General of Gerindra, Kawendra Lukistian, added that Dasco's appearance explaining the President's policy changes was inseparable from the fact that Gerindra is the main political party supporting Prabowo's government.

"This means that various policies are certainly optimized and monitored together under his (Dasco) command. So that's what we do, intensive coordination to monitor the programs of the President who is also the General Chair of the Gerindra Party so that they can be implemented optimally," said Kawendra.

In addition, according to him, Dasco's relationship with Prabowo is indeed close and they always communicate or coordinate intensively, especially regarding government policies for the benefit of the people.

In the context of 3 kg LPG gas, for example, Dasco conveyed the complaints experienced by the community so that the President decided that retailers should resume selling the subsidized gas.

"All of this was done to ensure that President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's programs can be implemented optimally, so that the impact can be felt by the community in a concrete and real way," he added.

Not only that, political researcher from the National Research and Innovation Agency Wasisto Jati sees Dasco also playing a role as a liaison between the executive and legislative branches. Prabowo is also suspected of deliberately placing Dasco as Deputy Speaker of the DPR to bridge the aspirations and communication of the two institutions to remain well-connected and solid, including securing every discussion of the draft law needed by the government.

However, Professor of Political Science at the University of Indonesia (UI) Lili Romli reminded that as a member of the legislature, especially one occupying an important position in the DPR as a leader, it became a question when Dasco straightened out President Prabowo's policies which had received sharp criticism from the public.

Because, if there is a change in executive policy, the relevant ministers should respond or explain the policy. Not only that, the legislative function is different from the executive. The executive runs the government, and the legislative is tasked with overseeing it. Dasco's actions in announcing the first change in policy from the President actually show legislative members who are playing an executive role.

"The relevant ministers should respond and explain the policy if there is controversy and public resistance," said Lili.

Understanding the position, duties and responsibilities of each “room” is important to ensure that the government system runs effectively and in balance, and to prevent abuse of power.