Ombudsman Values West Papua DPRD Is Not Transparent Regarding The Feasibility Test Of 10 Candidate Members Of The Information Commission

The Indonesian Ombudsman's Office in Jakarta. (Between)

PAPUA - The Ombudsman questioned the certainty of the implementation of the fit and proper test for 10 candidates for the West Papua Information Commission for the 2023 '2027 period.

West Papua Ombudsman Representative Head Musa Yosep Sombuk said the provincial government had submitted their documents to the West Papua Provincial DPRD.

Therefore, he said, the West Papua DPRD through Commission A must immediately announce a schedule for the implementation of the fit and proper test for candidates for members of the Information Commission.

"Ini sudah mau hampir 1 bulan belum ada informasi soal fit dan proper test. Tentu publik bertanya-tanya," ucapnya di Manokwari, Selasa, 10 Oktober, disitat Antara.

Musa Sombuk emphasized that the West Papua DPRD, which has the authority to carry out a fit and proper test, must be more alert in responding to improvements to the disclosure of public information.

He hopes that the West Papua DPRD Secretariat will immediately arrange a schedule so that the selection of 10 candidates for members of the Information Commission runs according to public expectations.

"The Ombudsman asked Commission A to immediately tell us when the fit and proper test date will be, not soon," said Musa Sombuk.

The Ombudsman, he said, continues to oversee the process because the existence of the Information Commission is a mandate of Law Number 14 of 2008 concerning Public Information Disclosure.

It was also revealed that West Papua had previously been categorized as one of the provinces in Indonesia that was not informative, so it was necessary to improve the governance of information services that are easily accessible to the public.

"The invitational orders must have public participation, one of which is through the Information Commission," he explained.

He suggested that all fit and proper test processes to determine five of the 10 candidates for the West Papua Information Commission be carried out in a transparent manner.

If the stages in question are held behind closed doors, he continued, Commission A of the West Papua DPRD must include supervisory institutions such as the Ombudsman.

"This is so that all processes are well and correct. Don't have any interests inserted, in the end the good ones will end up falling," said Musa.

According to him, the existence of the Information Commission is very much needed in improving governance in the future which is good and clean.

"If the disclosure of information is achieved, it will be an indication of the cleanliness of the regional head," said Musa Sombuk.

Head of the West Papua Information and Statistics Communications Agency (Diskominfo) Frans Istia explained that the recommendations of 10 candidates for the Information Commission for the 2023 '2027 period have been submitted to Commission A of the West Papua DPR for the implementation of a fit and proper test.

The recommendation file has been signed by the Acting Governor of West Papua Paulus Waterpauw on Thursday, September 14.

"On Friday (15 September) morning we immediately handed it over to the West Papua DPRD Secretariat," said Frans Istia.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Commission A of the West Papua DPR, George Karel Dedaida, said that his party had not yet received a recommendation letter for 10 candidates for members of the Information Commission.

However, he has confirmed directly to the Head of West Papua's Diskominfo regarding the submission of the recommendation file.

"Not yet received, I have checked the Secretary of the West Papua DPR. I confirmed it to the Head of Diskominfo, he said the letter had been sent," he said.

Ten candidates for the West Papua Information Commission 2023'2027, namely Andi Sastra Benny Saragih, Dadan, Debora Dewi Aryani Soeharsono, Doan Marsen Sahala Tua Nainggolan, and Donny ES Karauwan.

Next Henry Victor Sitinjak, Romadhoni Rudyanita Lestari, Samuel Sirken, Siti Juleha Hindom, and Vinsensius Yohanis Osok.