Commission II Of The House Of Representatives Encourages Regional Elections Through DPRD, The Reason Is That Many Regional Heads Are Corruption

JAKARTA - Member of Commission II DPR RI Indrajaya, suggested that regional head elections (Pilkada) must go through the DPRD RI. The reason is, many regional heads who are directly elected by the people actually fall into corruption cases.

Indrajaya explained that so far the government must spend a very large budget for the implementation of regional elections. For example, he said, the 2024 national simultaneous regional election budget, which reached IDR 41 trillion.

Because the budget is quite expensive, according to him, the 2024 Pilkada is very appropriate as the final evaluation for the efficiency of the Pilkada budgeting.

"Because the 2024 Pilkada is a national simultaneous peak regional election designed in 5 waves since the 2015 Pilkada, 2017 Pilkada, 2018 Pilkada, and 2020 Pilkada," Indrajaya told reporters, Wednesday, August 6.

In addition, he continued, Pilkada through the DPRD could also stop the legal commotion. Because Indra said, since the 2015 first batch of simultaneous regional elections, the Pilkada Law has undergone four changes. Namely, Law Number 1 of 2015, Law Number 8 of 2015, Law Number 10 of 2016 and Law Number 6 of 2020.

"The Pilkada Law is the most disputed law in the Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court noted that there were 35 tests of the Pilkada Law throughout 2024," said Indrajaya.

According to Indrajaya, the frequent testing of laws and regulations does not go through in-depth studies, and it seems that there are legal acrobatics, requirements for interests (legieslative misbaksel) and the DPR being used as sacrifices.

"To raise the degree of democracy, the reason for the legal noise is the right way to restore the Pilkada by the DPRD," said the legislator from the South Papua electoral district.

Indrajaya said that the practice of money politics in the Pilkada was also a consideration. Likewise, violations of ASN neutrality in the Pilkada, especially due to incumbent.

"This triggers abuse of power and politicization of the bureaucracy. ASNs that should be neutral, can be influenced to support or side with incumbents, both voluntarily and because of pressure," he said.

Worst, added Indrajaya, the number of regional heads who are caught in corruption should be able to evaluate the regional elections. Based on data from the KPK, from 2004 to January 3, 2022, there were 22 Governors and 148 Regents/Mayors who had been prosecuted by the KPK for corruption cases.

"ICW noted that throughout 2010-2018, there were 253 regional heads who were named corruption suspects by law enforcement officials," said Indrajaya.

Therefore, the PKB politician supports the proposal of his party chairman, Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, so that the regional head is elected through the DPRD.

"Because, so far, democratic parties in the regions have cost a lot of money. In addition, many regional heads are caught in corruption cases," concluded Indrajaya.