Suara Dari Maluku: Tolak Tunjangan DPR, Desak Puan Maharani Mundur Saja

Students conveyed the points of demand before the Maluku DPRD which sat on the floor at a demonstration at the Maluku DPRD building (ANTARA/Dedy Azis).

AMBON - Hundreds of students and activists who are members of the Maluku People's Alliance held a demonstration in front of the Maluku DPRD Building, today.

They demanded that the Maluku DPRD urge the Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, to resign from her position as a form of moral responsibility.

The Coordinator of the Maluku People's Alliance, Fadel Notanubun, in his oration stated that the policy of increasing the DPR allowance showed the political elite's insensitivity towards the suffering of the people.

"When people have difficulty accessing basic needs such as education, health, and food prices that continue to soar, the DPR's elite actually adds facilities to itself. This is an insult to social justice and betrayal of the constitutional mandate," Fadel said as quoted by Antara.

According to him, the increase in salaries and allowances only widens social distancing between the people and their representatives in Senayan.

"How is it possible for them to claim to be representatives of the people if the policies made actually enrich themselves and increase the burden on the people through new taxes? This is clearly an elitist and unfair policy," he said.

Fadel also assessed that the Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives and members of the council failed to represent the people because they agreed to a number of policies that harm the wider community. He alluded to the ratification of the Job Creation Law which has drawn a wave of rejections, revisions of the KPK Law which are considered to weaken anti-corruption institutions, to the discussion of the RKUHP which is full of controversial articles.

"All of this adds to the long list of public disappointments. The DPR is not transparent in the legislative process or decision-making, so the people feel betrayed," he said.

Fadel added, this action is not only a rejection but also offers structural solutions. The Alliance urged the ratification of the Draft Archipelago Regional Law (RUU DKP) as an important instrument of justice for development for the archipelago region.

Responding to the action, the chairman of the Maluku DPRD, Benhur Watubun, immediately accepted the aspirations of the masses. He appreciated the way the demands were delivered which were peaceful and orderly.

"What was conveyed today is the voice of the people of Maluku that must be heard. The Maluku DPRD is committed to continuing this aspiration to the central government and the DPR RI, including urging the Chairman of the DPR RI to consider the best steps for the nation. We leave it to the chairman of the political party," said Benhur.

Benhur also supports the acceleration of discussion and ratification of the Archipelago Regional Bill.

"We realize that the DKP Bill is an urgent need for archipelagic areas such as Maluku. We will oversee this aspiration at the central level, because it involves the interests of the people, which have often been neglected in national development," he said.